UFC legend GSP warns Israel Adesanya against going too far in pleasing fans: "Don't pass the line"

UFC legend Georges St-Pierre can relate to middleweight champion Israel Adesanya’s struggles at the top.

Former double champion St-Pierre recently sat down for a dinner with “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya, and discussed among other things what it’s like to stand at the top of a sport where one punch or weak performance can define your entire career. With nine straight title defences, “Rush” St-Pierre was one of UFC’s most dominant champions ever. Today, he’s widely considered one of the best fighters to have ever graced the octagon. It’s not strange, then, that Adesanya feels inspired by the legend.

Adesanya currently has an impressive five straight title defences, and only one loss on his MMA record. Despite being well on his way to becoming a historical fighter, the champion has been criticised lately for what fans consider to be uneventful and boring fights. It’s a criticism that St-Pierre is all too familiar with, however he warns Adesanya against taking unnecessary risks in an attempt to entertain fans.

“It’s good that you use (criticism) as a fuel to motivate you because it gives you more energy to prove them wrong, but don’t pass the line of doing this,” St-Pierre told Adesanya. Heavy is the crown, my friend. And it’s just the beginning for you. Heavy is the crown. I’m honest with you. I like you. I’m telling you the truth; heavy is the crown.”

“Nobody can understand, but it gets worse. It adds more weight to your shoulder every fight. Every fight is bigger and bigger, and the criticisms are worse, and the expectations are more and more. Keep that fire, man, because this journey can change you from the inside out.”

At UFC 281 on November 12, Adesanya will face off against his former kickboxing rival Alex Pereira. “Poatan” Pereira has two previous wins over “The Last Stylebender” in kickboxing. Their first fight ended in a controversial decision win for Pereira. In the rematch, Adesanya wasn’t far from an impressive win by decision when Pereira knocked him out cold with a perfectly placed left hook.