UFC 234: Israel Adesanya easily makes weight for mega-fight with Anderson Silva

Kiwi Israel Adesanya has made weight for his mega-fight with Anderson Silva.

The two mixed martial arts (MMA) stars clash in a middleweight bout at UFC 234 on Sunday, with the winner earning the right for a future title shot.

Adesanya hit the scales right on point at 185 pounds, one pound lighter than 'The Spider'.

An emotional 'Last Stylebender' promised fans a spectacular fight against his idol, who was in tears knowing this could be his last fight if he comes up short.

"Thank you to everyone who is here from Auckland," Adesanya said.

"He is trying to make me cry now.

"I am a fan of this man but just because I am a fan it doesn't mean you can't catch these hands, elbow, feet and knees. Tomorrow we are going to leave everything in the cage and have fun.

"I'll send him off in a nice way."

On Friday, UFC president Dana White confirmed that a middleweight title fight is the carrot that awaits Sunday's victor at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena.

UFC 234: Israel Adesanya easily makes weight for mega-fight with Anderson Silva
UFC 234: Israel Adesanya easily makes weight for mega-fight with Anderson Silva

Australian Robert Whittaker and American Kelvin Gastelum go head-to-head in the main event for the 185-pound title, a second title defence for Whittaker who was declared middleweight champion in December 2017 after Georges St-Pierre vacated.

A bout between Adesanya and Whittaker would be a historic moment in Australasian MMA – the first ever UFC title fight between an Australian and a Kiwi.

Both Whittaker and Gastelum successfully made weight for their fight.

Adesanya's City Kickboxing teammates were also on the mark. Kai Kara-France stepped on the scales at 125 pounds for his flyweight bout against Raulian Paiva while Shane Young (145) is good-to-go for his featherweight clash with Austin Arnett.

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Join us Sunday from 12:30pm for live updates of UFC 234.