"I knew he was not gonna last" – UFC Champion Israel Adesanya wrote Robert Whittaker's name in the 'Death Note' to win the UFC middleweight title

Israel Adesanya became the UFC middleweight champion after defeating Robert Whittaker at UFC 243. The current No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter revealed that he had written Whittaker's name in the 'Death Note'.

Three years ago today, Israel Adesanya knocked out Robert Whittaker to become king of the middleweights 👑 https://t.co/qw6YWgkWxt

Death Note is a Japanese anime series. The main law of the Death Note is that whoever's name is written in it shall die. While Whittaker did not die, his reign as the UFC middleweight champion did.

Adesanya would make good on his promise of ending Whittaker's era by delivering a second-round knockout to become the middleweight champion. Speaking at a press conference ahead of UFC 243, Adesanya had stated:

"He's the Grim Reaper, right? I have a shinigami with me and I just had to write his name because I knew he's not gonna last. I just wrote his name in the Death Note. Those who know the rules of the Death Note, they know, in a certain time frame, that after your name is written in the Death Note, the shinigami will get you."

Following his UFC 243 victory over three years ago, Adesanya has dominated the middleweight division. He will face arguably his toughest test yet in Alex Pereira at UFC 281. The Brazilian holds two kickboxing wins over Adesanya. Moreover, he knocked 'The Last Stylebender' out in their kickboxing rematch.

Watch Israel Adesanya discuss writing Robert Whittaker's name in the Death Note below:

Robert Whittaker picks Israel Adesanya to defeat Alex Pereira at UFC 281

Israel Adesanya will face Alex Pereira at UFC 281 in what many believe will be his toughest challenge yet. Robert Whittaker, who Adesanya defeated at UFC 243 and UFC 271, believes that the middleweight champion will defend his belt for the sixth time.

As announced on @SportsCenter, we have a 𝑴𝑨𝑺𝑺𝑰𝑽𝑬 main event set for MSG 🍎

@Stylebender vs Alex Pereira is confirmed for #UFC281!

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Speaking to MMA Pros Pick, the No.1-ranked middleweight stated:

"If I was a betting man, I'd go with Adesanya. I think he's the best defensive striker in the game, physically it just makes perfect sense for him to fight that way and he's a tricky guy to hit, but Pereira is huge, man. He's a huge guy and they've fought before so they have some sort of understanding of each other's reach."

Whittaker noted that the smaller gloves used in mixed martial arts, compared to kickboxing, will prove decisive. Even though Pereira currently holds two wins over Adesanya in kickboxing, the pair have never met in the octagon.

Watch Robert Whittaker discuss the upcoming UFC 281 matchup between Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira below (starting at the 0:10 mark):