Israel Adesanya (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Now that Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker are going to fight later this year, Dana White’s reporting he has his staff looking for a stadium in Australia to host the title fight.

Adesanya, who resides in New Zealand, won the interim middleweight title last night at UFC 236, by outscoring Kelvin Gastelum. As a result, the vaunted striker will take on the ruling, middleweight champ, and Australia resident, Whittaker next.

For a little while now, Adesanya had been pushing for a bout with Whittaker to take place in New Zealand or Australia. Following UFC 236, White reported the following (quote via MMA Junkie):

“We were going to do that fight here; I wanted that fight in the U.S.,” White said. “We’re definitely not doing that fight in the U.S. That fight is going to Australia. It will be massive in Australia. I put my guys on that. That’s their homework for this week. A stadium, not an arena, A stadium in Australia.”

And while discussing the location of the title fight, Adesanya had this to say:

“It could be in Australia, but Auckland I think is a viable option, as well,” Adesanya said. “We can push back and forth, because he is a born Kiwi but he’s a Maussie. He’s representing Australia. When I’ll be ready again? He says August. I say let me go shower first.”

Whittaker hasn’t competed since last June when he defeated Yoel Romero by split decision.