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Tag: Israel Adesanya

  • Israel Adesanya On PPV Streak Ending In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not Like In The F*cking Apex’

    Israel Adesanya On PPV Streak Ending In UFC Return: ‘It’s Not Like In The F*cking Apex’

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn’t fazed about competing at a more low-key event to kick off his 2025 campaign.

    Having risen to prominence on MMA’s biggest stage in quick time, “The Last Stylebender” competed on pay-per-view lineups 14 times in a row between his knockout win over Derek Brunson at UFC 230 in 2018 and submission loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in Australia this past August.

    That setback this year marked Adesanya’s second straight, coming 11 months on from his shock removal from the throne at the hands of Sean Strickland. The Nigerian-New Zealander now finds him out of the championship conversation for the first time in years.

    And with that will come a return to UFC Fight Night action for the first time since his headliner with Brad Tavares in 2018, as he does battle with the surging Nassourdine Imavov at the event in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1.

    Given that card’s location and the habit since 2020 for many events to take place within the crowdless surroundings of the Apex, Adesanya isn’t expecting the magnitude of his next fight to feel as different as some have predicted.

    “I still get paid. There’s still a referee, it’s two of us in there, there’s a crowd. It’s not like in the f*cking Apex or something, so it doesn’t feel any different,” Adesanya said during an interview uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel. “I think people are making it out to be something how they would react to it, but they’re not in my shoes. They’re not in my shorts.

    “It’s a Saudi Arabia Fight Night, first of all. I still get paid. It still feels like you’re fighting Israel Adesanya. This is the biggest fight of his (Imavov’s) life. I have to be the one to halt that,” Adesanya continued. “It still feels the same. It doesn’t feel any different.”

    While he expects to feel the same making the walk, Adesanya will hope to get a different result than in his two previous outings.

    Having admitted that he’s toward the end of his career as an active fighter, “The Last Stylebender” will look to ensure that his stint in the UFC doesn’t conclude on a losing skid by defeating Imavov for his first win since a memorable knockout of Alex Pereira in April 2023.

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Inclusion In Manel Kape’s UFC Tampa Octagon Interview

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Inclusion In Manel Kape’s UFC Tampa Octagon Interview

    One of the stand out performances from the final UFC event of 2024 came courtesy of Manel “Starboy” Kape. The flyweight contender returned to the win column with one of his best performances inside the Octagon to date against Bruno Silva.

    Kape looked incredibly fast and accurate in Tampa and though he can still be a divisive character, displays like this make it easy to remember why some fans were so excited for him to arrive in the UFC. It doesn’t seem like this win will be enough for him to get his first shot at the title but he won’t be far off following this victory.

    Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was enjoying some food whilst watching the Portuguese stand out go to work during his YouTube reactions to the fights.

    Suddenly, out of nowhere, he heard his own name after Kape used his time on the mic to reignite an old feud. At UFC 293, Kape and Adesanya got into a heated exchange at the press conference due to the flyweight’s comments about one of Adesanya’s close teammates, Kai Kara-France.

    After getting his hand raised, Kape spent part of his post-fight interview calling out the likes of Kara-France, Adesanya and Brandon Moreno. Having just given “Starboy” lots of credit for his performance, “The Last Stylebender” was caught off guard but he did find the whole thing amusing rather than taking it to heart.

    “Why’d he say f*** me for? Man, I give this guy this credit like he’s looking nice and then he said ‘F*** you’. Hey, I still keep it real man, he f****** showed out. Hey man, this shows I been in his head this whole time, I didn’t even think it was like that but he did well, good job… little b**** a** n****.”

  • Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov Official For UFC Saudi Arabia Main Event

    Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov Official For UFC Saudi Arabia Main Event

    The UFC has finalized a fight between former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and the rising Nassourdine Imavov for early 2025.

    Knockout Alerts reported a number of weeks ago that the bout was planned to headline the second UFC Fight Night event in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1, 2025, at The Venue in Riyadh. That’s now been made official, with UFC CEO Dana White announcing the matchup in a social media video.

    Israel Adesanya, once unbeaten with a 20-0 record and a dominant reign at middleweight, has faced a turbulent career path in recent years.

    After his first career loss to Jan Błachowicz at UFC 259 in a bid for the light heavyweight title, the Nigerian-New Zealander defended the belt against Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier. He lost the championship to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, only to reclaim it one fight later with a spectacular KO victory over “Poatan” at UFC 287.

    His momentum faltered again when Sean Strickland defeated him by decision at UFC 293, and he subsequently lost a chance to reclaim the title against Dricus Du Plessis by submission this past August. This upcoming fight could be a crucial step toward getting Adesanya back into title contention.

    Nassourdine Imavov, currently holding a 15-4 record, has been building momentum with three consecutive victories, including two by decision. Most recently, he defeated Brendan Allen in a UFC Fight Night main event in Paris this past September.

    A win over Adesanya would be the biggest of “The Sniper’s” career and could propel him into the middleweight title conversation.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia are as follows:

    • Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov (middleweight main event)
    • Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Page (middleweight co-main event)
    • Ikram Aliskerov vs. Andre Muniz (middleweight)
    • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (heavyweight)
    • Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira (bantamweight)
    • Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues (heavyweight)
    • Bogdan Grad vs. Lucas Alexander (featherweight)
    • Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Jordan Leavitt (lightweight)
    • Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (women’s flywight)
    • Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen (heavyweight)
    • Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli (featherweight)
    • Terrance McKinney vs. Damir Hadžović (lightweight)

    This card promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent as the UFC continues its expansion into the Middle East.

  • Israel Adesanya Makes Surprising Pick For ‘Sleeper Fight’ At UFC 310

    Israel Adesanya Makes Surprising Pick For ‘Sleeper Fight’ At UFC 310

    Israel Adesanya will be tuning in to UFC 310, the final pay-per-view event of 2024, this Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena with the rest of the fight world.

    The event is headlined by a UFC flyweight championship bout between reigning titleholder Alexandre Pantoja and former two-time Rizin bantamweight kingpin Kai Asakura.

    In the co-main event, Shavkat Rakhmonov will face Ian Garry in a five-round welterweight title eliminator. This match comes after the Kazakh star’s original title fight against current champ Belal Muhammad was canceled.

    Adesanya, a former two-time UFC middleweight champion, shared his thoughts on the card via his YouTube channel, where he always selects one matchup as the “sleeper fight” on each PPV card.

    Interestingly, this occasion saw Adesanya choose the main event, which sees a somewhat unknown commodity to UFC fans in Japanese star Asakura challenge for gold in his debut.

    “Pantoja knows how to scramble, but he also knows how to scrap. … A guy like this, Kai, you just have to make him pay,” Adesanya said. “Who has made him pay yet for being reckless? You have to have someone who is confident in their skills enough to not fear (Asakura’s) barrage.

    “Pantoja can grapple. I’m sure (Asakura) is very well-versed. But this is going to be a crazy fight. This might be the sleeper fight for f**k sake! And it’s the main event,” Adesanya added. “All I know is this card is f**king stacked.”

    Adesanya is also expected to return to the Octagon soon, with reports placing him on the UFC Saudi Arabia lineup for Feb. 1, 2025, against Nassourdine Imavov.

  • Israel Adesanya Explains Picking Ian Garry To Upset Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310

    Israel Adesanya Explains Picking Ian Garry To Upset Shavkat Rakhmonov At UFC 310

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is envisioning Ian Garry having his hand raised over Shavkat Rakhmonov this weekend.

    Garry has the opportunity to stake his claim for a first shot at the welterweight title on Saturday night, when he co-headlines the UC 310 pay-per-view opposite a fellow undefeated contender in Rakhmonov.

    The Irishman was originally slated to return in the main event of next weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa against Joaquin Buckley. But with champ Belal Muhammad being forced out of his defense against “Nomad” in Las Vegas, “The Future” has stepped up for a title eliminator.

    Despite never tasting defeat in his professional career, Garry will enter the cage as a sizable underdog on Dec. 7, with his line reading +295 compared to the Kazakh star at -375.

    That, however, hasn’t stopped one of the sport’s best backing the Dublin native to get the job done at Rakhmonov’s expense.

    During a recent video uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya broke down this weekend’s numbered event at T-Mobile Arena.

    “The Last Stylebender” gave a particularly thorough breakdown for the co-main event, which is arguably set to be the night’s most anticipated matchup.

    And when it comes to his prediction, Adesanya is expecting Garry’s technical striking and underrated grappling to pave the way for an upset over Rakhmonov.

    “Shavkat, he’s a mauler. … Ian, second Irish sensation,” Adesanya said. “I grappled with him (Garry), he’s a good grappler…he’s slick. He knows how to put things together well. You watch his striking, his distance, his awareness. … That’s where he’s going to have an advantage in this fight.

    “I think he’s going to be able to touch Shavkat. But he’s got to be careful,” Adesanya continued. “Use that jab, use the teep, keep Shavkat away. … For me, I like this fight. I’mma go with Ian Garry. I think it’s going to go to a decision. … There was something he (Garry) was saying. I saw a clip of him at a press conference talking about Shavkat, talking about, ‘I want to be the guy to take that 0 away.’ That’s the energy. That’s that Goku spirit very few people have.”

    Garry will look to prove Adesanya’s assessment correct come fight night in “Sin City,” when he and his former training partner Rakhmonov feature on a PPV main card that will be topped by Alexandre Pantoja’s latest flyweight title defense.

    https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1864504980562231419
  • Israel Adesanya Reflects On Settling The Feud With Dricus Du Plessis

    Israel Adesanya Reflects On Settling The Feud With Dricus Du Plessis

    We’ve seen it happen time and time again where the tension that exists pre-fight between two competitors is put to bed once they meet inside the Octagon. This was certainly the case in the main event of UFC 305 in August where Israel Adesanya returned to challenge Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight title.

    The feud dated back over a year and reached boiling point following Du Plessis’ win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 where in his post-fight interview, he was joined in the cage by Adesanya for a heated exchange. Unfortunately, “Stillknocks” wasn’t able to make the quick turn around to fight the champion at UFC 293 but with Adesanya losing the title only for Du Plessis to win it from Sean Strickland at UFC 297, the match-up came back around.

    After Du Plessis submitted “The Last Stylebender” in the fourth round to defend the title in Perth, they shared a brief but respectful exchange in the immediate aftermath. Footage later came out on social media of one final meeting between them backstage where they pleasantly parted ways.

    In a recent appearance on Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant podcast, Adesanya spoke about putting the rivalry with Du Plessis to bed.

    “Yeah we’re cool. After the fight, we had a nice discussion, yeah it was cool. Just like a moment and then at the end he said, ‘If you’re ever in South Africa, you know, tap in’ and I was like ‘yeah sure’ and I said when I see you again, I’ll try and kill you and he goes ‘I’ll try and kill you too’ and we just hugged.”

    He said that despite the animosity that previously existed between them, it’s normal for fighters to shake hands and put the past behind them after competing against one another.

    “That’s how most fighters are, there’s only some who take it to that place and then like keep it like that after the fight but nah, we’re all on the same journey and again, he’s achieved his dream now.”  

  • Israel Adesanya Details Lapse In Concentration That Cost Him At UFC 305

    Israel Adesanya Details Lapse In Concentration That Cost Him At UFC 305

    In his return to the Octagon at UFC 305, there were a lot of positives to take from Israel Adesanya’s middleweight title fight with Dricus Du Plessis even if he was defeated. “The Last Stylebender” failed to capture the 185-pound gold for a third time but it was clear that his time away from the spotlight had produced some benefits.

    Heading into the championship rounds, the challenger appeared to be in the ascendancy but eventually, in the fourth round, the unwavering persistence of “Stillknocks” paid off and he was able to catch Adesanya, take him down and secure the rear-naked choke. The former champion said in the aftermath of the fight that he was happy with his performance but he made some crucial mistakes that cost him.

    During a recent appearance on Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant podcast, Adesanya spoke more in detail about the mistake that he made right at the end of the fight.

    “The mistake was just a lapse in focus cuz I tripped, bad footwork, and I tripped and then that was when he was kind of throwing at me and people thought like ‘Oh! You hurt him’ and I got up and I was like (points) the ground.”

    He said that though some may have thought he was pointing to the ground to beckon Du Plessis on, he was instead trying to make the point that he had tripped rather than stumbling due to any damage that he had taken. He went on to say that in his previous fights, you never see him lose concentration for a single second.

    The one instance that the City Kickboxing fighter referenced where he did take his eyes off his opponent was during his fight with Derek Brunson where he gestured towards the referee because Brunson grabbed his shorts multiple times. Adesanya believes that this one moment swung the fight against Du Plessis in the defending champion’s favor with the finish quickly following it.

    “Even that moment right there, I shouldn’t have. Just stay focused on the task at hand cuz you need 30 minutes of focus while you’re in there so you can’t even have just a lapse in judgment for a split second because if not, people can jump on you and capitalize and I’ve done that to people as well but this time, it got done to me.”

  • Former UFC Champion Wants To Fight ‘Fake’ Israel Adesanya If He Ever Returns

    Former UFC Champion Wants To Fight ‘Fake’ Israel Adesanya If He Ever Returns

    In 2021, former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley departed the UFC to explore the next phase of his career. Four consecutive losses inside the Octagon brought an end to his 16-fight run with the promotion which saw him win the title at 170-pounds and record three title defenses, four if you count the draw in his first fight with Stephen Thompson.

    “The Chosen One” then went into boxing where he became the second major name from MMA to face Jake Paul in the ring. After losing a split decision in their first encounter, he was then knocked out in a rematch in December of 2018.

    Woodley has not returned to competition since then but he has spoken about substantial offers that he has regularly received to dust off the gloves for one last dance. In a recent interview with Plejmo, the former champion spoke about who he would want to share the Octagon with if he did ever make a return to the UFC.

    The 42-year old said that there’s one current star in the promotion in particular who is in and around his weight class that he would like to lock horns with. Woodley went on to voice his opinions regarding the former two-time UFC champion Israel Adesanya who he believes is “fake”.

    “I never thought about going back, but now when I look at the UFC, there’s not that many stars. Alex Pereira is a beast. He’s a big-ass 205 pounder, so I can’t see myself getting in there with him. Israel Adesanya is a fighter I would definitely fight. I’m not a huge fan of his. I just don’t like people that are just fake. He was conveniently African. Before that he was UK. Before then, he was like an avatar breakdancing guy.  The UFC needs some star power in there. There’s a lot of fighters that are kind of in my class of fighting that’s still fighting in the UFC. Some of those fights would be kind of cool.”

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Applauds Jon Jones Performance During UFC 309 Live Reaction

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Applauds Jon Jones Performance During UFC 309 Live Reaction

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya appeared impressed while watching Jon Jones send Stipe Miocic into retirement with a brutal kick this past weekend.

    Jones and Miocic headlined Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, completing their long-awaited matchup over a year on from an injury shelving it first time around.

    Returning from a spell on the sidelines that spanned over three and a half years, many dismissed Miocic’s chances of unseating Jones and adding a third heavyweight reign to his illustrious record.

    And the veteran ultimately failed in his pursuit of proving them wrong, with “Bones” following a dominant opening round by eventually finding the finish in the third frame with a vicious spinning side kick to the body.

    In spite of many focusing on his avoidance of Tom Aspinall, Jones’ latest triumph on MMA’s biggest stage drew widespread plaudits, including from some UFC peers whom he’s not always seen eye to eye with…

    During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reacted live to the events that unfolded on the UFC 309 main card at MSG.

    The Nigerian-New Zealander didn’t have much to say during the finishing sequence in the headliner, instead simply applauding Jones’ work.

    “He did it, as he does,” Adesanya said. “Great main event. … Good to see Stipe hang them up. I still think he went out on top.”

    He was subsequently asked the question on everyone’s lips — will a unification fight with Aspinall happen?

    “I think it’ll happen. If Jones is not retiring, I think they’ll figure it out,” Adesanya said. “Talk to Hunter (Campbell), talk to Dana (White)…sit down in the War Room, they’ll hash it out, they’ll figure it out.”

    While Jones initially appeared to tease a stance switch inside the Octagon when he suggested he could give the masses what they want, he quickly reverted back to dismissing Aspinall and expressing a desire to face Alex Pereira when he arrived backstage.

  • Israel Adesanya Makes His Pick For Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 309

    Israel Adesanya Makes His Pick For Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic At UFC 309

    Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes this weekend’s curtain-closer between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic will reach a conclusion well inside the five-round distance.

    Jones and Miocic have renewed hostilities a year on from their first failed attempt at sharing the cage. That bout set for Madison Square Garden fell through owing to an injury on the side of the heavyweight kingpin.

    And despite that setting the stage for Tom Aspinall to achieve interim champ status, the title won’t be unified next, as “Bones” has instead kept his sights on welcoming Miocic back to the Octagon after a near-four-year layoff.

    Given the veteran’s age and lengthy stint on the sidelines, which followed a brutal knockout loss to Francis Ngannou, not many are giving the Ohio native a chance of ripping the gold from Jones’ grasp at UFC 309.

    And that includes a man who hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with the Rochester native…

    During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya provided a brief breakdown of both UFC 309 headliners before making his prediction.

    While “The Last Stylebender” praised Miocic’s toughness and past stints with the heavyweight crown in his possession, he went as far as to suggest that a victory for the challenger would mark the “biggest upset” the Octagon has seen.

    “Jones lately looks better at heavyweight already. He’s been taking it seriously,” Adesanya said. “The Ciryl Gane fight was the one that made me go, ‘Yeah, he’s the best.’ I thought Ciryl Gane was going to give him some trouble, and Ciryl was the new-age heavyweight. Jones was like, ‘Hold on there.’ … The guy’s just crafty, creative with what he does.

    “But with Stipe, Stipe is tough. He can outwork a lot of heavyweights. You’ve seen what he’s done in the past, you’ve seen his reign as a heavyweight. … But in this fight, man, I think he’s up against it,” Adesanya continued. “I’m going to pick Jon Jones….first two rounds, he’s going to finish him. … If Stipe gets it done, it will be the biggest upset in UFC history.”

    Miocic will look to prove Adesanya wrong and deliver a major shock in “The Big Apple.”

    In doing so, he’d likely return to the heavyweight throne in an even more shocking fashion than his redemption against Daniel Cormier back in 2019.

  • Michael ‘Venom’ Page Offers To Fight Shara Magomedov: ‘Leave My Boy Izzy Alone!’

    Michael ‘Venom’ Page Offers To Fight Shara Magomedov: ‘Leave My Boy Izzy Alone!’

    UFC welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page is willing to move up in weight for a striking battle with Shara Magomedov.

    Magomedov was among the biggest winners to emerge from this past weekend’s UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, where he opened the main card against a fellow striking specialist in Armen Petrosyan.

    After a competitive first round, “Bullet” produced an incredible highlight in the second, unloading a spinning double backfist to drop his Armenian counterpart for the knockout win.

    The result moved Magomedov to 4-0 in the UFC, marked his third win since June, and paved the way for entry into the middleweight rankings at #14.

    In the aftermath, the Dagestani made his plans to keep climbing the ladder clear with an ambitious callout of former two-time champion Israel Adesanya. Having not received a positive response, though, he may need to search elsewhere for his next challenge.

    He might not have to look far, however.

    One notable name has thrown their name into the hat, with longtime 170-pounder “MVP” offering to share the cage with Magomedov up at 185 pounds.

    “Magomedov — he just fought, did the double spinning back [fist] knockout and then he called out my boy Izzy,” Page told MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck. “Mate, I’m at that weight right now. You don’t even have to wait too long. That one there, I’ll just take straight away just for the fun of it.

    “I’m in shape now, ready to go. So that’s a good fight for me, I think. Just a nice stand up fight for everybody, just to come back to the game,” Page continued. “And like I said, leave my boy Izzy alone. He’s trying to get back to the belt, to the throne, so I’ll take his place.”

    Page has gone 1-1 in his debut year competing under the UFC banner. Following his Bellator departure, the Brit got off to a strong start inside the Octagon by outpointing Kevin Holland at UFC 299 in Miami this past March.

    But his charge toward title contention was narrowly stalled by Ian Garry when they met at UFC 303 during June’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

    While “Venom” is currently without an opponent for his UFC return, he is keeping busy with a grappling match opposite former interim UFC champion Carlos Condit at Polaris 30 in London this weekend.

  • Shara Magomedov Adds 3 Names To Hit List After Israel Adesanya Callout At UFC 308

    Shara Magomedov Adds 3 Names To Hit List After Israel Adesanya Callout At UFC 308

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn’t the only prominent name Shara Magomedov has his eye on following this past weekend’s event.

    Magomedov made a splash in his latest Octagon outing on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. In his third fight since June, the Dagestani was tasked with opening the UFC 308 pay-per-view main card opposite a fellow striking specialist in Armen Petrosyan.

    Both men had their moments through a round and a half, but it was “Bullet” who closed the show in memorable fashion before the second horn. He connected with an innovative spinning backfist to send his Armenian counterpart to the canvas.

    While the heights he can rise to on MMA’s biggest stage remain unclear given his perceived grappling deficiencies, Magomedov has broken into the rankings this week and appears to be an entertaining addition to the middleweight top 15.

    During his post-fight press conference at UFC 308, Magomedov called his shot for an opportunity to climb further up the ladder, reiterating his desire to meet Adesanya next time out.

    Whether or not that ambitious request comes to fruition in 2025 remains to be seen. But should the promotion have other plans for “The Last Stylebender,” Magomedov isn’t short on alternative callouts.

    “I’m in no rush. I’m not running in front of the train. The only way for Israel Adesanya to avoid the fight with me is to retire,” Magomedov said. “Of course I would like to fight Israel to prove that I’m the best striker in the division. But also, I would like to fight Marvin Vettori to prove that my wrestling is good. Those two names really excite me.

    “Besides them, guys like Kevin Holland, Michel Pereira,” Magomedov continued. “Our middleweight division is full of predators and sharks, but I’m the only pirate.”

    Vettori, a former title challenger, hasn’t competed since a decision defeat to Jared Cannonier in a June 2023 main event. He’s gone 2-2 across his last four, leaving him at #7 in the rankings.

    Holland and Pereira, meanwhile, are coming off more recent setbacks, with “Trailblazer” injuring his rib against Roman Dolidze in Salt Lake City earlier this month and “Demolidor” suffering a convincing headline loss to Anthony Hernandez at the Apex on Oct. 19.

    Be it against one of those names or a different middleweight entirely, all eyes will no doubt be on Magomedov’s next walk to the cage given the performance he put in at the Etihad Arena this past weekend.

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya’s Live Reaction To Chimaev Dominantly Submitting Whittaker At UFC 308

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya’s Live Reaction To Chimaev Dominantly Submitting Whittaker At UFC 308

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya reacted like most as Khamzat Chimaev forced a quick tap from Robert Whittaker this past weekend.

    After injuries and illness stalled his title plans at 185 pounds following a victory over Kamaru Usman in October 2023, Chimaev made his return 12 months on for the biggest Octagon outing of his career to date.

    Many were picking against “Borz” leading up to the UFC 308 pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi given the level of competition he was facing. But despite plenty backing former champ Whittaker to make it three wins from three in 2024, Chimaev streamrolled through “The Reaper.”

    Having secured his usual fast takedown, Chimaev went to work on the ground and ultimately applied a brutal face crank. To the surprise of most, Whittaker tapped out almost immediately.

    The Australian’s decision to do so was explained soon after when an image showed that the pressure from Chimaev’s hold had caved his front teeth in.

    During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reacted live to the events that unfolded at Saturday’s PPV in Abu Dhabi, paying close attention as the undefeated Chimaev met his former two-time opponent.

    Adesanya willed Whittaker on as he worked to escape Chimaev’s imposing wrestling, expressing shock at the sudden ending that came just over three and a half minutes into the very first round.

    “There we go, told you. Straight away. You should know by now he’s going to shoot, but he’s so quick with it,” Adesanya said. “Good job Whitty. … What?! Already? Wow. That’s what I said, first or second round. Something (happened) with the jaw, that was just too quick. … F*ck, dislocated jaw from the pressure, that’s crazy.”

    With Adesanya failing in his bid to regain the middleweight title in Perth, Australia this past August, he likely won’t be sharing the cage with Chimaev anytime soon.

    Instead, “Borz” has his sights on Dricus Du Plessis, who won the belt from Sean Strickland at the start of 2024 before adding a defense to his reign at “The Last Stylebender’s” expense.

  • Top-5 Middleweight Contender ‘In Talks’ For Israel Adesanya Fight At Sydney-Held UFC 312

    Top-5 Middleweight Contender ‘In Talks’ For Israel Adesanya Fight At Sydney-Held UFC 312

    Rising UFC middleweight contender Caio Borralho claims that talks are ongoing with the promotion regarding a potential showdown with former two-time champion Israel Adesanya.

    Adesanya returned to action close to a year on from his defeat to Sean Strickland this past August. After being shockingly unseated from the throne by “Tarzan,” the Nigerian-New Zealander was looking to achieve three-time status at the expense of Dricus Du Plessis.

    The pair collided in the main event of UFC 305 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, where the South African champ maintained his grip on the crown at 185 pounds thanks to a fourth-round submission.

    “The Last Stylebender” was quick to dismiss any suggestion of a possible retirement in the aftermath, and it appears that his next outing could mark his third straight Down Under.

    It was recently announced that UFC 312 will mark the organization’s return to the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney — the venue in which Adesanya lost to Strickland last year. And should Borralho get his wish, the ex-champ will get his chance for redemption in the city opposite him in 2025.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie‘s Mike Bohn, the #5-ranked contender claimed discussions are ongoing with the UFC over sharing the cage with Adesanya at next year’s second pay-per-view.

    Borralho sought to explain why the matchup makes sense and also attempted to dismiss rival Nassourdine Imavov’s claim to the next shot at using Adesanya’s name to rise the ranks.

    “I want to fight Izzy. We are in talks with UFC, but nothing confirmed yet,” Borralho said. “But that’s the fight we want. I think that’s the fight that makes sense. Adesanya already fought all the guys from (the) top five. Just me and Imavov he didn’t fight, but Imavov didn’t (have) a good fight last time, so I think they’re thinking about me. Let’s see what the UFC wants.”

    “The Natural” has had a perfect run in the UFC since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2021. He’s won all seven of his Octagon outings to date, knocking out Paul Craig and outpointing Jared Cannonier in his 2024 assignments.

    Having climbed into title contention, Borralho is certainly due a major fight next time out. And he’s made no secret over which longtime star in the middleweight division he wants to face en route to the gold.

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Pumped Up While Live Reacting To Francis Ngannou’s Dominant MMA Return

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Pumped Up While Live Reacting To Francis Ngannou’s Dominant MMA Return

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was ecstatic to see Francis Ngannou make a winning return to mixed martial arts.

    Adesanya was among the keen viewers tuning in for this past weekend’s PFL pay-per-view in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which was headlined by Ngannou’s first taste of MMA action since January 2022.

    Back then, “The Predator” held the UFC heavyweight belt and successfully stalled the title ambitions of Ciryl Gane. On Oct. 19, he captured PFL gold at the expense of Renan Ferreira, whom he brutally pummeled into unconsciousness in under four minutes.

    During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reacted to his friend and fellow African standout’s long-awaited MMA comeback and SmartCage debut.

    “The Last Stylebender” was visibly pumped up during the finishing sequence, which saw referee Dan Miragliotta come under criticism for what many deemed to have been an egregiously late stoppage.

    Adesanya later became emotional as the victorious Ngannou teared up post-fight while dedicating the victory to his late son, Kobe.

    “Let’s go, brother,” Adesanya said, before recapping Ngannou’s win. “Flawless. That was a beautiful performance. He took one leg kick, dodged the flurry, and eventually timed his right hand, shot for a double, kept him there and knocked him out.

    “Proud, inspired, and just happy to watch him do his thing,” Adesanya continued. He’s gone through so much in his career — even still. After the whole boxing thing, people were doubting him. … They forget who this man is. … I’m glad he reminded everybody why he’s the best, why he’s the one, why he’s Francis Ngannou.”

    It remains to be seen what will come next in the career of Ngannou, and whether his sights will remain on the cage or return to the ring following a two-fight boxing stint across the past year.

    But with talk of dream showdowns with the likes of Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall rising back to the surface following this past weekend’s result, it would appear that plenty have strong interest in “The Predator’s” MMA exploits moving forward.

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Former Rival Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Win

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Reacts To Former Rival Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Win

    Israel Adesanya watched closely as UFC 307 went down this past weekend, where a former foe of his was back in action.

    The former two-time middleweight champion is always able to offer unparalleled analysis when Alex Pereira is stepping inside the cage.

    They’ve faced each other on four occasions in various rule sets, and despite his prior losses to “Poatan,” Adesanya is the only man to beat him in the UFC.

    Via the reactions video on his YouTube channel, FREESTYLEBENDER, fans got the chance to watch “The Last Stylebender” enjoy a fun fight and devastating performance from Pereira to cap off the night.

    Israel Adesanya Reacts To Alex Pereira’s Ruthless Display At UFC 307

    Now that he’s not competing against him and they’re in different weight classes, Adesanya is able to join the ranks of all the fans that enjoy watching Pereira do what he does best.

    Throughout his reaction, he constantly drew attention to things that Pereira is doing or thinking based on his experiences of fighting and studying “Poatan.”

    Despite a strong start to the fight from the challenger, Adesanya believed that Pereira was only going to get stronger as the fight went on.

    “Round two, if ‘Poatan’ gets past this or doesn’t get knock him out, I think he’ll be fine. Khalil is better early on… I think he has to. If not, ‘Poatan’ is gonna get those leg kicks going again.”

    Adesanya also pointed out in-between rounds how well the champion is able to recover in tough fights, whispering about how he knows all too well about this.

    “He’s a f****** demon bro. I felt it.”

    The third round came to a close and the former champ made the call that Pereira was going to close out proceedings in the fourth round now that he had really found his groove in Salt Lake City.

    “I can feel it, I can feel it. Now it’s gonna be ‘Chama’ time.”

    Throughout the fourth round, Adesanya repeatedly called for Pereira to switch up his approach and target the body which he eventually did, ending the fight after a barrage of strikes that Rountree somehow withstood.

    “Good on him, he lasted longer than I thought he would but at least someone else took him to the fourth round, shows how good Khalil is.”

    Adesanya rounded out his thoughts on the fight by talking about what is in front of both Pereira and Rountree going forward.

    “He’s got some hard fights in front of him but he’s that guy right now, he’s on… honestly, that’s how I called it but I thought it was going to be early but shout to Khalil ’cause heart. Fighting with a broke nose, f***** eye and intelligence not to blow his nose in the fight, respect and his stock goes up after this, so yeah, what a moment.”

  • MMA Analyst Explains How Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Performance Differed From Win Over Israel Adesanya

    MMA Analyst Explains How Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Performance Differed From Win Over Israel Adesanya

    Alex Pereira has defended the UFC light heavyweight three times in 2024 while breaking Ronda Rousey’s record of the quickest turnarounds between three title defenses.

    Although many believed Khalil Rountree to be a much easier opponent than former champs Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka, “The War Horse” gave Pereira one of his toughest UFC fights. The challenger won the first two rounds and compelled the champion to make several adjustments.

    Luke Thomas, like countless others, has all the praise in the world for Pereira’s UFC 307 performance. While breaking it down, he explained how “Poatan” handled Rountree and Israel Adesanya in vastly different ways…

    Luke Thomas Breaks Down Alex Pereira’s UFC 307 Win Over Khalil Rountree By Comparing It To His First MMA Win Over Israel Adesanya

    Thomas reacted to the UFC 307 main event on his YouTube channel recently. Right away, he shut down people claiming that the light heavyweight kingpin shouldn’t have faced trouble against the no. 8 ranked person in the division.

    Then, the analyst explained how Rountree forced Pereira to change his traditional game plan that involves inside leg kicks, jabs to the body, head kicks, and most importantly, the left hook. None of these elements seemed to work against “The War Horse” in the first two rounds following which “Poatan” relied on his left jab and gradually mixed things up.

    “I cannot overstate to you how difficult that is for most fighters, including most elite fighters. Most elite fighters have a game. This is what they do. And if that doesn’t work, and they’re still five, ten, 15 minutes, they have no other gear to go to. And in fact, I’m going to say this in a complimentary way, that is what ultimately happened to Khalil Rountree. He had a game and it was very very potent but once Poatan was able to like plug little holes in it and it began to leak, there was no going back.”

    Thomas highlighted how hard it is for fighters, regardless of skill and experience, to ditch their game plan mid-fight. To explain this further, he compared the significant strikes stats for the UFC 307 main event to the first UFC fight between Pereira and Adesanya.

    Against Rountree, the Brazilian landed 72% head strikes, 13% body strikes, and 14% leg kicks. Against Adesanya at UFC 281, he landed 46% head strikes, 29% body strikes, and 24% leg kicks. Although both fights ended similarly, the difference in Pereira’s approach is evident.

    “This is proof positive. He didn’t have to work for the jab [against Adesanya] nearly as much in this one and the jab is obviously relevant to the body too, but. look at how much the jab to the top of the head was absolutely critical.”

  • Jon Anik Shares Best Potential Matchups For Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, & Dricus Du Plessis

    Jon Anik Shares Best Potential Matchups For Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, & Dricus Du Plessis

    The UFC middleweight division has changed a lot in the last couple of years. The turmoil that started after Anderson Silva finally lost the belt ended with Israel Adesanya unifying the title and defending it five times.

    Alex Pereira then fired through the ranks to take out Izzy at UFC 281 but “The Last Stylebender” reclaimed his belt at UFC 287 with one of the most iconic knockouts of all time.

    Just when it seemed like Adesanya would be champion for at least a couple more years, Sean Strickland pulled off one of the biggest upsets of all time to become champ. He then lost the belt to Dricus Du Plessis, who’s already defended it once against Adesanya.

    Amidst the unusual turbulence at the top ranks, here’s how the UFC middleweight division should operate according to Jon Anik…

    Jon Anik Backs Sean Strickland As Next UFC Middleweight Title Contender While Suggesting Israel Adesanya vs. Khamzat Chimaev

    Anik claimed the UFC middleweight division to be stronger than ever during an interview on the official The Schmo YouTube channel. When asked about who should fight for the title next, the play-by-play commentator named Strickland.

    “I don’t think it’s hyperbolic or overstating it to suggest that the middleweight division, right now, has never been stronger. Right? Sean Strickland’s a worthy number-one contender. Nassourdine Imavov, on and on it could go!”

    Anik backed his choice by recalling the times Strickland has stepped up for the UFC and citing his recent win over Paulo Costa and the extremely close decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis, the current champ. He also credited the former UFC middleweight kingpin for risking his top 5 ranking against Pereira in 2022.

    “Well, in a straight meritocracy, I’m on record as promoting Sean Strickland because he has repeatedly stepped up for the promotion. Let us not forget he put his number four ranking on the line against Alex Pereira when nobody wanted to fight Poatan. He has stepped into main events against guys, he’s stepped into a five round fight against Paulo Costa. And he fought Dricus Du Plessis toe-to-toe. So in a straight meritocracy, if I’m the promoter, I lean Strickland.”

    Although he’s no longer the champ, Adesanya is still likely the biggest draw in the division. So, when asked about the best matchup for his return, Anik named Chimaev who’s fighting Robert Whittaker at UFC 308. With that match, the former champ should be able to make the most of his star power and help elevate Chimaev’s popularity as well.

    “I think if you’re Izzy, you just lay back in the cut and maybe it’s Khamzat. I mean that’s a fight that I think would have some appeal but Khamzat could be in a championship setting.”

    Anik acknowledged that the match between Whittaker and Chimaev is bound to shake things up. The winner will likely have an undeniable claim to a title shot and it’ll be interesting to see whether Strickland will be overlooked in the process.

  • Adesanya Seeks Redemption: ‘I Know I Can Beat Strickland’

    Adesanya Seeks Redemption: ‘I Know I Can Beat Strickland’

    Israel Adesanya is still looking to get a rematch with Sean Strickland and believes the fight will happen one day after losing the middleweight title in a shocking fashion. 

    The moment happened last year, but he hasn’t been able to lock down a rematch. Since then, Adesanya has won the belt back in August from Dricus Du Plessis, who had taken the belt from Strickland months prior. While speaking on the JRE MMA Show, Adesanya stated that he wants to get his hands on Strickland and have some revenge. 

    “Strickland, definitely. That fight was not me. Again, I don’t make excuses… [Comedian Dave Chappelle] said something like, ‘When it’s your time, you have to know and be humble enough when it’s someone else’s.’”

    – Israel Adesanya on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast

    Adesanya stated, “That was just his week, and his, and everything. So it’s his time, let him have it, but I definitely know what I can do. I took his best shots, and I just know I can take this guy. I know what I can do. Not similar to the Pereira one where I was winning, but this one, I definitely know what I can do with this guy.”

    Although he thinks his best version beats Strickland’s best version, that version didn’t show up when they met in 2023. However, in a rematch, he’s more than confident in his ability. It’s believed that Strickland will get a rematch with Du Plessis next. 

  • Kevin Holland Dismisses Israel Adesanya As Exciting Opponent: ‘Now He’s Just Some Guy Who Can’t Stop Running Backwards’

    Kevin Holland Dismisses Israel Adesanya As Exciting Opponent: ‘Now He’s Just Some Guy Who Can’t Stop Running Backwards’

    UFC middleweight contender Kevin Holland is not enamored by the idea of sharing the octagon with former two-time champion Israel Adesanya.

    Holland is set for his second outing since returning to 185 pounds at this weekend’s UFC 307 pay-per-view event in Salt Lake City, Utah.

    Four months on from a submission win over Michał Oleksiejczuk, “Trailblazer” has the chance to leap into the top 10 by getting the better of Roman Dolidze at the Delta Center on Saturday night.

    With a victory over the Georgian, Holland could secure a place opposite a major contender next time out. But showing his strong focus on delivering entertainment, “Big Mouth” has looked to eliminate one former champ from the equation…

    Holland Would Rather Fight Costa Than Adesanya: ‘At Least Paulo’s Going To Actually Come Out & Fight’

    During a recent interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Holland looked ahead to his outing in the “Beehive State” and assessed what could await him after an impressive performance.

    While a big-name opponent could be in the offing for “Big Mouth” should he have his hand raised at UFC 307, he’d rather it not be one particular figure inside the top five.

    “Not really,” Holland said when asked if the idea of facing Adesanya gets him excited. “It would have been exciting beating him as the champ. Now he’s just some guy who can’t stop running backwards and getting clipped and throwing a lot of leg kicks.

    “At the end of the day, guys fighting like that, they play the chess match where they’re just doing this (leg kicking) all night. It’s like, that’s boring,” Holland continued. “I’d rather fight Paulo Costa than fight Izzy. At least Paulo’s gonna actually come out there and fight, when he actually wants to.”

    Adesanya is currently without an opponent almost two months on from his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis in Perth. He is, however, targeting a return to action before the end of 2024.

    Holland, meanwhile, looks to have his hands full this weekend as he shoots for the middleweight top 10 at the expense of the ever-dangerous Dolidze.

  • Israel Adesanya Explains Effectiveness Of Alex Pereira’s Unorthodox ‘Hammer’ Leg Kicks

    Israel Adesanya Explains Effectiveness Of Alex Pereira’s Unorthodox ‘Hammer’ Leg Kicks

    Israel Adesanya recently shed light on the potency of Alex Pereira’s unconventional leg kicks.

    If there’s anyone who truly understands the intricacies of Pereira’s fighting style, it’s “The Stylebender”. These two have shared the stage in one of combat sports’ most legendary rivalries. Having faced off four times—twice in kickboxing and twice in the UFC—Pereira holds the upper hand with a 3-1 lead over Adesanya.

    Adesanya is only all too familiar with the devastating impact of Pereira’s strikes, particularly his infamous leg kicks, which have earned widespread acclaim for their potency.

    Even MMA icons like Daniel Cormier and Joe Rogan have praised the brutal effectiveness of Pereira’s leg kicks, recognizing just how destructive they can be.

    Adesanya understands better than most that Pereira’s crushing power isn’t confined to his fists alone. Though his nickname “Poatan” means “Stone Hands,” the Brazilian’s leg kicks are equally as destructive.

    Adesanya Admits ‘It’s A Different Feeling’ When Pereira’s Leg Kicks Connect

    During a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, “The Last Stylebender” reflected on his UFC clashes with Pereira. Adesanya specifically revisited their encounter at UFC 281, where he lost his middleweight crown to “Poatan.” He noted that he was in control for the first two rounds, but once Pereira unleashed his brutal leg kicks, the momentum shifted.

    The former two-time 185-pound champion elaborated on the mechanics behind Pereira’s striking, highlighting how he executes such devastating blows. Adesanya likened the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion’s forefoot to a hammer.

    “That f**king leg kick, bro,” Adesanya said. “You know what it is. If you look at this bit of his foot [forefoot], it’s like a hammer, like the back of a hammer because that’s what he kicks you with, so he doesn’t have to turn the hip over. And when he hits you with that, even because of his bone density and long legs, when he hits you with that, you just feel it like, ‘Oo, that’s bad.’”

    “It’s a different feeling because I’ve been kicked by kickboxers all my life on the thigh and on the calf as well, but when he hits you with that bit, it’s just the surface so small, it travels and transfers through your whole calf, and you’re like, ‘Oh, I can’t put weight on this.’”

    “Poatan” is set to defend his championship against Khalil Rountree in the main event of UFC 307, taking place this weekend at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Pereira enters this matchup on a high, following his stunning second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 this past June.

    • Read More: Israel Adesanya Believes Alex Pereira Will Finish Khalil Rountree At UFC 307
  • Israel Adesanya Gives ‘Dumb Game Plan’ Advice For Khalil Rountree Ahead Of UFC 307: ‘It’s a Matter Of Time Because You’re Drowning’

    Israel Adesanya Gives ‘Dumb Game Plan’ Advice For Khalil Rountree Ahead Of UFC 307: ‘It’s a Matter Of Time Because You’re Drowning’

    Khalil Rountree has got a tough task ahead of him at UFC 307 where he will be walking into the biggest fight of his career.

    The #8-ranked light heavyweight contender will be challenging Alex Pereira for the title in Salt Lake City.

    Rountree’s striking has proven to be very dangerous, but implementing that against someone as technical as the former two-weight GLORY kickboxing world champion will not be easy.

    One man knows about facing Pereira better than anyone else and he had some thoughts to pass onto the challenger ahead of Saturday night.

    Israel Adesanya Lays Out Flawed Game Plan For Khalil Rountree

    During his UFC 307 predictions on his YouTube channel, Israel Adesanya spoke about how Rountree can win this fight.

    “The Last Stylebender” has faced off with “Poatan” twice in kickboxing and twice in MMA, winning their last encounter at UFC 287 via knockout.

    He said that Rountree’s best route to victory is getting it done early before Pereira can start to break him down and set traps.

    However, Adesanya then corrected his own point by stating that being overly aggressive against Pereira can also play into the Brazilian’s hands.

    If Rountree is to take one piece of advice from this, it’s to back his opponent up to avoid what the former two-time UFC middleweight champion describes as “drowning”.

    “Khalil has to just go at him, can’t be scared, just press him back. You can, it’s possible, press him back. Watch out for the low kicks cuz that’s what he’s gonna use to stop him… Khalil attack the body, attack the legs too cuz Pereira will take them but he doesn’t get affected by them till later, much later. If Khalil is gonna win, he’s gonna have to win or try and win early but that’s a dumb game plan so don’t listen to me. Don’t try and win early cuz that’s how you get caught as well with Pereira. He can catch him with anything. Catch him with hook coming in, knee, leg kicks and then eventually, when you feel like the third one, you’re like, ‘Oh s***,’ then I can’t press him back anymore. Then it’s like a matter of time as you’re drowning.”

    Adesanya would, however, go on to pick Alex Pereira to win the fight at UFC 307, in his official predictions.

    Read also: Alex Pereira On Chances Of Ex-Kickboxing Foe Finding UFC Success: ‘They Are Not Me, They Are Not Adesanya’

  • Israel Adesanya Believes Alex Pereira Will Finish Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    Israel Adesanya Believes Alex Pereira Will Finish Khalil Rountree At UFC 307

    Israel Adesanya will pay close attention to the fight that will see Alex Pereira put his UFC light heavyweight title on the line in the headliner of this Saturday’s UFC 307 pay-per-view event against Khalil Rountree from Salt Lake City.

    Adesanya knows firsthand what it’s like to fight Pereira and how good he is. They’ve fought a combined four times – two kickboxing and two MMA bouts. Adesanya raised his hand after scoring a KO win at UFC 287. 

    While appearing on The Adam Carolla Show (H/T to MMAJunkie.com), Adesanya broke down the fight and noted that Rountree’s approach has not been successful. 

    “I’ll go Pereira because of momentum right now,” Adesanya said.” “Rountree doesn’t grapple. He likes to kickbox. He’s never gone for a takedown. If you’re going to do that with Pereira – I’m the only one who’s ever even rocked him or like stood with him in the UFC. Everyone else, he’s washed. Rountree, if he can make it dirty and catch him, he can catch him, but it’s so hard to do it to Pereira.”

    Adesanya’s Prediction For UFC 307 Main Event

    According to Adesanya, Rountree will face difficulty in closing the distance against Pereira and could absorb damage as a result.

    “Rountree, his reach may not be able to get to him. Pereira likes to use his long reach to frame. … This weekend I’m going to go Pereira, and I’m going to go TKO or KO. I don’t know what round, but I just feel like it’ll be hard for Rountree. Leg kicks, leg kicks, and he might catch him as Rountree comes in because Rountree is going to be attacking him.”

  • Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Viral Car Altercation: ‘Within An Hour I Found Out Where He Lived…’

    Israel Adesanya Opens Up On Viral Car Altercation: ‘Within An Hour I Found Out Where He Lived…’

    Israel Adesanya recently broke his silence on the viral confrontation he had with a passerby on the streets of Auckland, New Zealand.

    Last month, a video emerged on social media showing the former UFC middleweight champion in an intense exchange with an individual on the streets. The confrontation quickly escalated into a heated, expletive-filled argument, during which Adesanya could be seen spitting in the direction of the person.

    While the exact cause of the wrangle remains unclear, TMZ reported that the unidentified individual in the video approached “The Last Stylebender” as he was parking his vehicle on K Rd. The person allegedly hurled the N-word at the UFC superstar and even challenged him to a fight. Fortunately, the situation didn’t escalate into a physical confrontation.

    Picking a fight with a trained MMA fighter—especially someone of Adesanya’s caliber—would be a terrible decision for any ordinary person. If the Nigerian-born Kiwi had chosen to, he could have easily wiped the floor with the heckler.

    However, “The Last Stylebender” had a very specific reason for holding back and choosing not to engage physically with the individual.

    Adesanya Reveals He Avoided Escalating Confrontation With Heckler To Prevent Street Violence

    During a recent appearance on the Adam Carolla Show, Adesanya recounted the now-viral street encounter with the provocateur. The Auckland native explained that he was making a quick stop at an eatery when the individual suddenly confronted him, challenging him to a fight—a move Adesanya suspects was a setup.

    “The Last Stylebender” remained relatively composed and didn’t take the situation too seriously but admitted that if the person had invaded his personal space, he would have been forced to defend himself. However, he held back, explaining that the tragic death of his City Kickboxing teammate, Fau Vake, who was killed in a senseless road rage incident in 2021, made him determined not to let the situation escalate into violence.

    “When he pulled up in front of the car, I was just like, ‘Okay, if this guy breaches my [space], then I have to attack him,’” Adesanya said. “But I had a good day; I was in a good mental space, and I gave him a lot of grace because one of our teammates, Fau Vake, got killed by senseless street violence. He got coward-punched by a d*ckhead, and he’s dead now. So in the moment, I knew if I hit this guy, he’s going to hit his head because it’s a sloped street. He’s going to fall down, hit his head on the concrete, and probably bleed out.”

    Adesanya further mentioned that he never took the individual seriously from the start of their verbal exchange, admitting he found the entire situation amusing and couldn’t help but chuckle throughout the encounter.

    “”I was like, what the f**k, and I was laughing, so I think me laughing kind of p*ssed him off. Then him flexing and all that—look, within an hour I found out where he lived. It’s my city, but again, I think Karma will get him.”

    “The Last Stylebender” is enduring the most difficult stretch of his career, having faced consecutive losses for the first time. Adesanya’s effort to reclaim the UFC middleweight title fell short against reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis, succumbing to a fourth-round submission at UFC 305 in August.

  • Marc Goddard Names Israel Adesanya Bout As The Greatest He’s Refereed: ‘I’ve Cried After That Fight…’

    Marc Goddard Names Israel Adesanya Bout As The Greatest He’s Refereed: ‘I’ve Cried After That Fight…’

    As a veteran referee, Marc Goddard has been the third man in the Octagon for some of the most iconic UFC fights of all time.

    He’s seen his fair share of show stealing knockouts, jaw dropping comebacks and epic encounters that fans will talk about for decades to come.

    During a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA, Goddard spoke about some of the most memorable fights that he has officiated.

    Find any interview with the Brit talking about this specific question and he always gives the same answer, taking you back to one night in Atlanta, Georgia.

    Marc Goddard Talks About When Israel Adesanya & Kelvin Gastelum Pushed Each Other To The Limit

    At UFC 236, the co-main event of the evening was the highlight of the night even when it was followed by Dustin Poirier vs Max Holloway 2.

    Israel Adesanya met Kelvin Gastelum with the interim middleweight title on the line and the pair produced an all-time classic.

    This one will always stand out to Goddard when he looks back on all of the fights that he has played a part in, he said.

    “Then number one is, every day of the week, twice on a Sunday, is Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum.

    “You find one moment in your life when you think, ‘I’m not going to go away’. In this fight, you had two guys in the exact same moment that wouldn’t go away. I couldn’t believe what I was watching unfold in front of me. I remember that there’s a clip at the beginning of the fifth round and Israel’s looking across him saying, ‘I’m prepared to die.’ Now I didn’t, I’m not looking at this, I’d seen it afterwards but honestly mate, that fight when you got two fighters that went into the deepest, darkest depths of their soul and they went into the deepest, darkest waters imaginable or possible in a fight and I was right alongside them, standing three-foot away, witnessing this unfold.”

    Goddard also said that the fight produced an emotional moment both on that night and when he watches the fight back, after seeing how far both men were able to push each other.

    “As soon as I know they’re safe, I f****** run off with my head in hands and I won’t be ashamed to say, I’ve cried after that fight watching it back because it was ungodly what those guys did. It was ungodly.”

    Read also: Alexander Volkanovski Picks ‘Very Exciting’ Conor McGregor Fight Over Ilia Topuria Rematch