Israel Adesanya’s UFC title challenge against Kelvin Gastelum will be ‘a piece of cake’ having already beaten legend Anderson Silva

ISRAEL ADESANYA challenges for the UFC interim title on Saturday night – but the occasion will be a “piece of cake” having already beaten UFC icon Anderson Silva.

Rising star Adesanya, 29, challenges for the interim middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum, 27, at UFC 236 in Atlanta.

But days out from his first shot at UFC gold, Adesanya is “calm, ready, and focussed” – having beaten MMA icon Silva in his last fight.

Silva and “The Last Stylebender” clashed at UFC 234 two months ago and on the eve of show saw their fight boosted to the main-event as Robert Whittaker vs Gastelum was pulled.

That night the crowd watched a passing of the torch in the middleweight division – as the flashy Auklander outpointed legend Silva – in a result Adesanya values above anything else.

I feel calm, ready, and focussed – I’ve taking everything day by day until it’s time to lock that cage door.

Israel Adesanya on fighting for the UFC title

Adesanya said: “That fight meant more to me than this fight or the world title – because of who Anderson was to me.

“The short notice and the magnitude of the fight itself for me I learned a whole lot from that.

“This fight will be a piece of cake.

“I feel calm, ready, and focussed – I’ve taking everything day by day until it’s time to lock that cage door.

“Kelvin is a tough guy, he’s a warrior the way he fights and attacks the game, and I expect nothing less.

“I’m bringing my best, so he better bring his best.”

Adesanya has raced to 16-0 in his professional MMA career, having won five straight since debuting in the UFC against Rob Wilkinson in February last year.

Having shined as a kickboxer winning tournaments in Glory, and also having a 5-1 boxing record – Stylebender has graced the UFC as a freestyle fighting phenom.

All eyes in the middleweight division have been glued to the New Zealander and his breathtaking style – but that kind of pressure is nothing new to the Nigerian born.

Adesanya said: “It’s been exactly how I expected it, I’ve planned all of this before I got to the UFC so it’s all eyes one me.

“I’ve had practise on that – living in the mainlands being a big black guy I’ve had people just constantly staring at me – so that was good practise for moments like this.

“I focus on me – people are gonna look anyway so I may as well give them something to stare at.

“There’s a group of people I train with and training with them makes me look at my game as well as I’m constantly learning.

“I dedicate this to all my team-mates, the professionals, the amateurs – and not just my team-mates but my friends and family as well. Everyone who has helped me to this point.

Adesanya has been tipped by many to be the next big thing, the man to replace or challenge the Silva’s, Georges-St Pierre’s and Jon Jones’ of the UFC.

But each UFC great bares an asterisk next to their names – whether that be through inactivity, failed drug tests or a less favourable style.

For Adesanya, however, he vows to leave no such asterisk against his name by the time he is spoken of as a “pound-for-pound” contender.

He said: “I can tell you for a fact when my time comes, when my name comes there will be no asterisks.

“There’s nothing you can involve me with when it comes to PEDs or anything like that, I’ve been a clean athlete and I always will be.”