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Mixed Martial Arts

Does Israel Adesanya even care about the pound-for-pound rankings?

Does Israel Adesanya even care about the pound-for-pound rankings?DAZN

Israel Adesanya is one of mixed martial arts' brightest stars and most dominant world champions, as a two-time middleweight titleholder with five championship defenses to his name.

A look at the UFC's current pound-for-pound rankings has him at No. 5 behind fourth-ranked Leon Edwards, No. 3 Islam Makhachev, second-ranked Alexander Volkanovski and No. 1 Jon Jones. All are current champions.

So, how does "The Last Stylebender" feel about his place on the rankings and the pound-for-pound list overall?

Well, ahead of his UFC 293 clash with Sean Strickland on September 9 and seemingly thereafter, Adesanya couldn't care less.

"I never check, I just scroll past that," he told Stake.com of the rankings recently.

"I know that I’m the best, why would you give a f—k about someone’s opinion about you? I am the best.

"You need to be player 1 in your own life, people should see themselves as player 1."

The 34-year-old Adesanya added: "When it’s all said and done, they still might have me as number 10 on the list, but I wouldn't give a s—t. Those who love me and appreciate my art, and how I express myself with my art and in life can enjoy the things I've left behind."

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