Colby Covington has dismissed UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya as a 'cardio kickboxer' and says he would 'drop him on his f***ing head'.

'Chaos' is at a crossroads having beaten fierce rival Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272, with opportunities for progression limited having already lost to Kamaru Usman twice. 

With that in mind, the controversial American has turned his attention to the weight class above and called out Adesanya. 

He told Submission Radio: 'I think I can definitely go up to 185 and fight Adesanya. But I don't know if he's gonna turn around like that. 

'He doesn't have a dance partner right now. I mean, some of the guys they're trying to line him up with, it's unoriginal. I beat Usman twice. Usman sucks, dude. 

'Everybody knew in Madison Square Garden I won those last three rounds. It was an easy win for me, easy decision victory. Unanimous. So, why can't I fight Adesanya? 

He continued: 'He can't stop my wrestling. I'll pick him up and drop him on his f****** head. He's a cardio kickboxer. They got enough cardio kickboxers in women's classes around the US I could go join one of those as well but I decided to pick up hard grueling American wrestling. 

'I don't think Adesanya could stop my American wrestling, and I don't think he's that good a fighter.'

Adesanya has swatted aside all comers at middleweight, most recently defeating Robert Whittaker at UFC 271 by decision.

His striking is among the very best in the UFC and while many belief the area to exploit is his wrestling, the 32-year-old is adept at stopping the takedown. 

Covington's approach is heavily based on volume, pressure and wrestling and there would be serious questions over his ability to threaten Adesanya. 

Regardless, it seems inevitable that the middleweight champion will face Jared Cannonier in his next defence. 

The powerful American overcame adversity in beating Derek Brunson to put himself forward as the next obvious choice for the UFC. 

Covington says he would not stay at middleweight for the long term but wants a big payday in a one-off showpiece. 

He went on: 'I want to give the fans the biggest fight possible. I don't cut weight to go to 170, so I'm not gonna go up to 185 and make it a full-time home.

'But I'm waiting for the big fights to present themselves, and the two biggest fights in my mind, go beat up Adesanya, the guy who just has cardio kickboxing, he's not that good of a fighter, he's not well-rounded, he can't stop my American wrestling. I'll melt that guy. He'll a hundred percent melt under my pressure and my pace.

'Or fight Dustin, the guy who said it's on sight. He wants to come up to my weight class 170, he said this and that, he's supposed to be some pound-for-pound great fighter. 

'So, if you're pound-for-pound great, then come fight. What are you so scared of, man?'