Adesanya, Whittaker UFC fight pits New Zealand against Australia (Guardian)

The ‘big’ fight between Nigerian-born Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim middleweight titleholder, Israel Adesanya and Robert John Whittaker on October 6 in Melbourne will rekindle the sports rivalry between New Zealand and Australia.

While Adesanya, who hails from Odogbolu, Ogun State, Nigeria, is representing his adopted country, New Zealand, Whittaker, on the other hand, will fly the flag of Australia, though he was born in New Zealand.

Whittaker was supposed to defend the title against Kelvin Gastelum in February this year at UFC 234, but he (Whittaker) pulled out of the fight after he was forced to undergo emergency dual surgery due to an abdominal hernia of the intestine and a twisted and collapsed bowel. Read more