Israel Adesanya told to focus on middleweight after failed light heavyweight bid

UFC president Dana White is convinced that middleweight world champion Israel Adesanya should focus on his weight class following his failed bid for glory at 205 pounds.

Adesanya suffered the first loss of his mixed martial arts career by unanimous decision when he challenged reigning champion Jan Blachowicz for the UFC light heavyweight world title last weekend in the main event of UFC 259.

Not only does White believe that Adesanya should stay at 185 pounds, he also said that a potential showdown with ex-UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones is now off the table.

"Listen, he's the middleweight champion. He doesn't get the light heavyweight title, he doesn't get Jon Jones. But you know what, you never hurt somebody for trying to be big and trying to become great," he said.

"Jon Jones used to be at that weight class, Jon is going to be so much bigger than Israel. I think Israel should focus on middleweight right now. Get back in there and keep doing what he does in the middleweight division," he added.

And even though Adesanya fell short in his light heavyweight bid, White said that he remains an exceptional fighter with a bright future ahead of him.

"Size is always a factor when you move up a weight class in this sport. The double champ thing, it's like the thing to do right now, but it isn't easy to do. The people who have done it are absolutely, positively special." —MGP, GMA News