GLENDALE, Ariz. — Even before his spectacular Octagon debut, Israel Adesanya knew he wanted to fight UFC on FOX 29 foe Marvin Vettori.
Adesanya, a decorated kickboxer who cemented himself as a blue-chip middleweight prospect with his February romp over Rob Wilkinson, indicated Thursday at UFC on FOX 29 media day that he was given a choice of opponents for the April 14 event and selected Vettori, partly because of the Italian’s youth and gameness, but also partly because Adesanya claimed the two up-and-comers crossed paths last year in Las Vegas — and the exchange left a bad taste in Adesanya’s mouth.