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Israel Adesanya - Photo: (James Law/GLORY Sports International)

HOLLYWOOD–After a two-year absence from the GLORY promotion, Israel Adesanya (65-3-2) made quite the statement in his return by winning the GLORY 34 middleweight “Contender” tournament this past October, defeating both Yousri Belgaroui and Robert Thomas to earn a shot at the GLORY middleweight title.

On the eve of his title fight showdown with current champion, Jason Wilnis (29-6-1), the Kiwi fighter is as confident as ever that he possesses the skills to take the strap off of the Dutch title holder.

“I know I have what it takes,” Adesanya told MMA Plus just after the GLORY 37 weigh-ins at Tom’s Urban, inside the L.A. Live complex. “For me, everything has been perfect from the time I left home. Driving to the airport, everything has gone smoothly. The weight cut, just one session and I came on weight. The flight was easy. I came into America without any delays. Everything has led to this perfect climax to a new chapter. I feel great. The work is done. Now it’s time to play.”

Adesanya, 27, definitely has a strong presence about him and an engaging personality to go along with it. He exudes confidence, but that tends to happen when you have won over 60 kickboxing bouts, are undefeated in six mixed martial arts fights and hold a 5-1 record in boxing. He speaks about his abilities with conviction, but he’s always on an even keel. If he wasn’t clad in sweats and holding a container of pineapple squares, you’d think he was heading for a night out with friends and not for five rounds of combat for the GLORY middleweight title.

You saw his performance at GLORY 34, but the Nigeria native attests that he will be even better when he steps into the ring inside The Novo at GLORY 37 in Los Angeles, Calif. later today.

“Tournaments, I play them differently than I play one single fight,” Adesanya began. “In a five-round fight I get better in each round. He reckons he is going to turn it on in the fourth round. Your going to turn it on in the fourth round? Alright, you do that. I will work the first three and take you out in the first three. I know how to play. People think they saw the best of me in that tournament. This is a single fight and I’m going to hit ‘God Mode.'”

In case you are wondering, that is the term used for video game cheat codes that make the player invincible. Sounds like the challenger is ready to go full-fledged Tekken or Street Fighter and unleash his full arsenal against the champion.

Wilnis, who Adesanya referred to as a “tough guy” has looked outstanding lately too and he’s riding the momentum of his huge TKO victory over Simon Marcus at GLORY 33, which took place last September. Adesanya gave Wilnis some credit, but said Marcus “played a stupid game.”

“People say you should never underestimate anyone,” said Adesanya, who is now 2-1 in GLORY and on a six-fight winning streak. “I never underestimate anyone, but they forget to tell you to never overestimate them. So, I’m not looking past him. I’m not looking behind him. I’m just going to take him out. I fought 20 guys like him. I’ve fought more than 20 guys like him. I’ve beaten more than 20 guys like him. He’s never fought anyone or beat anyone like me. It’s going to be a shock for him. They all think they have it until they get in there and it’s like they are stuck in the headlights.”

Yes, Adesanya strongly believes his experience will be a major factor in the fight.

“I think I’m going to be the most active fighter in the Western world,” he said. “Last year–not like active and losing like a journeymen–I’m talking winning. I had over–including kickboxing and MMA–25 fights last year and I won them all. That speaks for itself. I just keep winning. It’s a habit and I don’t think he is used to winning.”

In order to get his hand raised as the new GLORY middleweight champion, Adesanya says, “I have to make him react the way I want him to react. Like I said, they all react the same. So, it’s just time to do my work.”

It is truly going to be a clash of opposite styles because Adesanya is unorthodox and is very dependent on movement and managing space and distance. Meanwhile, Wilnis has knockout power and he is as fundamentally sound a fighter as you will see in the GLORY ring. He will put together solid combinations, land stinging low kicks and always applies pressure on his opponents.

“The Style Bender” listed the champion’s attributes.

“Power,” he said. “You touch him and he throws. He’s never going to know when I’m going to throw. He’s going to keep guessing. He’s not going to keep walking forward after a while. After the first round he’s going to feel some sh*t and then he’s going to be like ‘oh shit.’ The last guy I fought Yousri Belgaroui, he was a forward pressure fighter as well.

“I walked him down. I called an audible and I just changed my plan during that fight. I knew … I didn’t want the judge to take it away from me so I said, ‘ok I’m going to pressure him back.’ But with him, he’s shorter than me. I have the longer range, I’m quicker, I’m sharper. I have the better eyes. It’s my fight to win. It’s my fight to lose. It’s my fight.”

The Novo inside the L.A. Live complex is a smaller venue than most GLORY events and holds 2,300 people. Due to that fact, there will be a smaller ring for the event. Adesanya, who is now ranked No.4 in the GLORY middleweight division, was asked if it will be a factor in the main event.

“I can do what he can do,” he stated. “I can do what I can do. Doesn’t matter a fight is a fight. I’ve been in smaller rings for boxing. I fought Brian Minto in a smaller ring and I beat him. It’s not a concern of mine.”

Should he prove victorious at GLORY 37, would winning a GLORY title be the crowning achievement of his career?

“For now,” Adesanya said, downplaying it as if to say there will be plenty more titles and accomplishments in his career.

“Every time I get a new belt–it ‘s a cliche–but it just feels meh because I’ve already visualised this. It just feels like a memory now. I’ve done this so many times, hundreds of times. But right now I’m just focused on the fight. After the fight I will let it sink in and I will just soak it all in. Right now I’m cold and ready.”