Fox Sports Australia’s Nick Walshaw brings you all the latest news and views in Aussie and global MMA in his weekly column, The Takedown.

Sat on a table, by the window of an Auckland apartment costing him too much, Tyson Pedro keeps a journal of all Israel Adesanya’s secrets.

“I’m like his stalker,” the UFC light heavyweight grins.

Then to prove his point, well, he starts to reveal just how detailed those journal pages are.

“When Izzy walks into the gym, I’m watching him,” Pedro explains. “When he enters the cage for training, when he bows, even tonight striking pads at the gym, I watch every single detail, go home, then write notes on what I’ve seen.

“And I know that really sounds stalkerish.

“But I want to understand the secret sauce.

UFC 293 | SUN SEP 10: The UFC returns to Sydney with an explosive fight card headlined by Israel Adesanya who will defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland. ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >

UFC 293: Izzy goes nuclear at rival as NBA superstar set for surprise appearance

“And that means trying to learn everything about the way he trains, hits pads, even breaths …”

The way he breathes?

“The other day we were wrestling together and Izzy noticed how I was breathing,” Pedro continues. “So we paused and he showed me this 360 breathing technique, explaining how he visualises pushing the oxygen right down and into his legs.

“And there’s just so much s… like that, all these moments happening every single day.

“Earlier tonight, we also did 12 rounds of assault bike and pads, and he’s on the bike behind me screaming ‘best in the world, best in the world’.

“Another moment.

“And when all those little moments keep getting added up, they have such a positive impact on your life.

“And every one of them goes into my journal.”

Long ranked among the most exciting fighters in Australian MMA, 31-year-old Pedro is now readying to front Sydney’s UFC 293 card – not only as one of five locals, but one of six members from his Auckland gym, City Kickboxing.

After years spent training right across Sydney, and beyond, Pedro is now officially a CKB member – joining an elite crew which, led by head coach Eugene Bareman, includes the likes of Adesanya, Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France and, at times, Australia’s own UFC featherweight king, Alexander Volkanovski.

While the commitment has meant spending the past nine weeks away from his young family – “and effectively spending a mortgage on my Airbnb” – Pedro’s time with CKB also has him primed, he says, for a “shock and awe” performance against Swede Anton Turkalj on September 10.

Importantly, the Penrith product has also been working closely with Adesanya, who headlines in his own middleweight title defence against American Sean Strickland.

“I want my grandchildren to remember this fight,” Pedro said.

“That’s what has changed a lot for me this camp.

“I used to think fighting was for the fans.

“And I do love them.

“But now, it’s for legacy. For my grandkids to one day look back and say of this fight ‘that’s where all this started … that’s where our family built what we have now’.”

UFC OCTAGON GIRLS REVEALED

AUSTRALIA’S Kristie Pearson is set to enjoy one of the more unique partnerships at UFC 293 in Sydney next Sunday – with the popular Octagon girl set to work the same fight card as her trainer husband, Ross.

The Takedown can reveal Pearson, a Central Coast product, is one of four Octagon girls set to work the event headlined by UFC middleweight king Israel Adesanya – with the rest of the crew including Brittney Palmer, Jhenny Andrade and Red Dela Cruz.

Ironically, Pearson’s husband Ross – who himself made plenty of fans, and memories, in his own 25 appearances in the UFC — will also be working the same event, cornering Australia’s all-action lightweight fighter Jamie Mullarkey.

The new Central Coast trainer also shared Octagon duties with his wife in February, at UFC 284 in Perth.

The Australian Pay-Per-View event will also be a homecoming for Dela Cruz, the Sydneysider who, eight years ago, saw her life completely transformed when she won the UFC’s search for an Octagon Girl competition.

Initially combining her Octagon work with an office job in Sydney, the 30-year-old is now fulltime with the UFC and boasts a huge social media following which, on Facebook, includes 2.8 million followers.

NO DDP FOR 293

SOUTH African Dricus Du Plessis is not expected to make an appearance in Sydney next week, despite his ongoing feud with headliner Israel Adesanya.

This column understands that while several international guests will be attending the Harbour City event — among them BMF champ Justin Gaethje, Aljamain Sterling and Gilbert Burns — no ticket has been booked for DDP.

Initially, the plan was to have Adesanya defend his middleweight title against Du Plessis – who beat Australia’s Robert Whittaker in what was considered a July title eliminator.

However, during the UFC 290 fight, the challenger injured his foot and it was Sean Strickland who subsequently found himself in to the headlining spot.

Adesanya has already let his frustrations regarding DDP standing aside be known and told MMA Junkie recently “we’ll see if he shows up”. UFC analyst Chael Sonnen had also urged Du Plessis to attend and ensure he gets next shot at the belt.

V’LANDYS TO MEET WITH UFC EXECUTIVES

UFC boss Dana White has extended his heavyweight support to rugby league’s hyped Las Vegas season launch in 2024.

NRL boss Peter V’landys is set to meet with members of White’s staff in Sydney next week, with the famed fight company offering to help orchestrate the event involving Brisbane, Manly, South Sydney and the Roosters.

“We’re just trying to give them a hand with the whole venture,” explained Peter Kloczko, UFC Vice President for Australia and New Zealand.

“Las Vegas is our backyard. It’s our home ground.

“And whatever ways we can help, we will. We’ll be headed to NRL headquarters next week to chat with them.”

UFC 293 | SUN SEP 10: The UFC returns to Sydney with an explosive fight card headlined by Israel Adesanya who will defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland. ORDER ON MAIN EVENT ON KAYO SPORTS >

IZZY EARNS BIG KO PREDICTION

BACK on Pedro, and the Australian has also been working hard to help Adesanya prepare for his latest title defence – joking that he has even been trying to mimic the outspoken Strickland during training sessions.

“Yeah, I’ve been trying to talk s… to Izzy, but I’m not good at that,” he laughed.

“So it just winds up me swearing at him.

“Strickland though, he’s a personality. And I’m pretty sure that personality got him into this title fight.

“He’s definitely a good fighter, but compared to some of the other guys in the division, he isn’t as skilled. He’s a volume fighter.

“But good on for him not only talking his way to the top, but taking this fight.

“He’s taken this fight when the other person who could’ve (Dricus Du Plessis) didn’t.

“So all power to him.

“Yes, he says some funny s…, and it’s not really my style.

“I’ll never talk badly of anyone who gets in there to punch on in front of the world.”

So as for a prediction?

“I think Izzy cleans him up early,” Pedro continued.

“He’s been talking about how he will do something spectacular, put him away quick, and he is all about manifesting things.”

FAKE NEWS ROCKS UFC 293

A MAJOR Australian newspaper editor has found himself unwittingly dragged into a UFC 293 drama, after a rogue fan presented as the print boss – both online and in telephone calls – to try and gain credentials for the Sydney event.

With Qudos Bank Arena selling out in just 13 minutes, VIP tickets for UFC 293 have become one of the hottest commodities in Sydney – with NBA superstar Jamal Murray even travelling from the US to attend.

So disappointed was one Australian fan at missing out, he reached out to UFC executives this week pretending to be a sports journalist seeking accreditation for the event.

To boost his claims, the fan in question even doctored up emails with a fake newspaper letterhead from a particular sports editor, and then phoned the UFC’s Sydney office and, pretending to be said newspaper boss, insisted his young employee be cleared for media seats.

Unfortunately for the fan, it’s understood to have taken just one phonecall from UFC HQ to the newspaper in question for the entire ruse to unravel – and our man left without a ticket.

VOLK’S BUB ARRIVES

MASSIVE congratulations to Australia’s UFC featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski and wife Emma, who welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Reign, this week. Announcing the birth of the couple’s third daughter via Instagram, the champ told his 1.6 million followers: “Reign Volkanovski. Baby girl number 3. Long may she reign. Mummy absolutely smashed it today…love you baby.”