It’s taken less than two years for Israel Adesanya to win UFC gold and become one of the promotion’s biggest stars. But, Tyron Woodley isn’t convinced “The Last Stylebender” is the fearsome force a lot of people think.

In fact, recently the former welterweight champ relayed that he wants to see how Adesanya would deal with his heavy hands, and the middleweight champ responded.

Woodley has seen “exposure” in Adesanya

Woodley has talked about moving up to middleweight in the past and making a run at 185 pounds. But, for right now, the powerful wrestler is focused on trying to reclaim the welterweight title he lost to Kamaru Usman in March, 2019.

In a recent live session on Instagram, Woodley had this to say about his future and a move to middleweight (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“I’ve got to clean up the (welterweight) division. Three or four fights in the welterweight division, and when I feel like I can comfortably say that I’ve wiped everybody out, then I want to go up there and see what Izzy is about.

“I’m going straight for the belt (if I move up), whoever its at. I ain’t going up to play games. I’m already a five-time world champion.”

And, while talking about the man who currently holds the middleweight crown, Adesanya, Woodley said this.

“I don’t think he’s as dope as everybody is saying,” Woodley said. “I think he’s great, but everyone is making him out like he’s some phenomenon.

I’ve seen some exposure in the Gastelum fight — somebody I walked through. I’ve seen some exposure in the Yoel Romero fight, he’s scared of guys with power.

One thing that Yoel and I have in common — not the same — is power, explosiveness. It didn’t seem like he was trying to deal with that at all.”

Woodley isn’t the only person to question whether the hype train that’s following Adesanya these days is going a little too fast. The vaunted striker did take some heavy shots in his bout with Gastelum, and Romero also tagged him in their lackluster bout.

That said, we are talking about a guy who has yet to lose a MMA fight, and who has beaten several of the UFC’s best middleweights already, including former champ Robert Whittaker.

Adesanya responds

Well, not surprisingly, Woodley’s comments got back to Adesanya, and the charismatic fighter responded with this tweet.

Lol see me see trouble…whala just dey find me anyhow.@TWooodley can’t even deal with one Nigerian Nightmare @USMAN84kg when he was at 30%.

Oboy sit down before I lash your nyash well well

There you have it. It would be interesting to see whether Woodley could test Adesanya as he claims. But, a lot has to take place before we see these two fight.

Adesanya is expected to face Paulo Costa next. Woodley was booked to fight Leon Edwards last month at UFC London, before the coronavirus pandemic shutdown the card.

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