White confirms Adesanya-Silva for middleweight No. 1 contender's match
The two marquee fights at UFC 234 on Saturday will determine the next middleweight championship fight.
Dana White confirmed at Thursday's pre-fight press conference that the winner of the co-main event between Israel Adesanya and Anderson Silva will earn a shot at the middleweight title.
"This is for the No. 1-contender position, this is it," White said.
Adesanya is currently ranked No. 6 in the weight class, but he owns a sterling 15-0 record, including wins in his first four bouts in the UFC. He's currently a heavy favorite to top his childhood idol.
"I'm 'bout to be champion in 2019," Adesanya said.
Silva, considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, is currently ranked No. 15 and hasn't fought since Feb. 11, 2017.
"The Spider" recorded four losses and a no-contest for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs before defeating Derek Brunson by unanimous decision nearly two years ago.
Saturday's other co-main event is a middleweight championship bout between Robert Whittaker and Kelvin Gastelum.