Adesanya plans to make 'easy work' of Cannonier, calls out Strickland

Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is feeling confident ahead of defending his title against Jared Cannonier at UFC 276 on Saturday.

"I think he's mature and can handle a spotlight, but not like me," Adesanya said.

"I'm going to make you (look like) easy work," he added.

Adesanya is seeking his fifth straight title defense with a win over the second-ranked middleweight. The reigning champion scored unanimous decision victories over Marvin Vettori and most recently Robert Whittaker at UFC 271.

Meanwhile, Cannonier dismissed the tough talk from his opponent during Thursday's press conference. "I'm focused on the task at hand," he said. The 185-pound challenger called pre-fight talk "white noise” and instead said he's "focusing purely on the performing Saturday night."

The "Killa Gorilla" earned a title shot after scoring a knockout over Derek Brunson in February.

Meanwhile, Adesanya took time during Thursday's press conference to address fellow middleweight Sean Strickland, who is facing Alex Pereira on Saturday.

"The Last Stylebender" appeared to take offense to a comment from Strickland about his win-loss record to Pereira in kickboxing. Both men got into a war of words. Before the verbal sparring session concluded, Adesanya offered Strickland, the No. 4- ranked middleweight, a proposition that he would do a "Tik Tok dance over his grave" when the two meet.

Adesanya also floated the idea of squaring off against Pereira last week. However, he thinks that both Strickland and Pereira should be more focused on their bout this weekend instead of picking a fight with the champ.

"All I have to focus on is Jared Cannonier," Adesanya said. "If I don't get through him, all my plans go completely out the window."