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The Rapid Rise of Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya has gone from UFC prospect to UFC royalty in less than two years. Now, the undisputed middleweight champion looks to defend his belt for the first time against Yoel Romero this Saturday at UFC 248 in Las Vegas.

From the very moment Israel Adesanya graced the octagon it was quite clear that he was a star in the making. Even prior to his UFC debut in February of 2018, the Last Stylebender displayed his legendary striking abilities as a kickboxer.

Adesanya owns an incredible (75-5) kickboxing record, which includes the most King of the Ring titles in history (3). He also has a (5-1) record as a professional boxer and has an (11-0) record in different MMA organizations across Asia and Australia.

Needless to say Izzy was already a seasoned striker when he took the octagon for the first time against Rob Wilkinson. Adesanya displayed an all-around game in the inaugural round, and then dazzled the crowd in the second with elite striking and eventually the TKO finish.

In the post-fight interview following his first victory, Adesanya stated “Middleweights, I’m the new dog in the yard.”

After claiming victory in his next two fights against Marvin Vettori and Brad Tavares, it was clear Adesanya was ready for a big test. Dana White matched the Last Stylebender up with middleweight contender Derek Brunson. Leading up to the fight, Brunson urged that Adesanya was too skinny and would not be able to fend off his wrestling. On fight night, Izzy did a magnificent job in the grappling exchanges and put on a striking clinic to finish Brunson in the opening round.

At this point Adesanya had made a name for himself within the UFC, but a star needs to have iconic moments. Adesanya’s first iconic moment would come against UFC legend Anderson Silva at UFC 234.

This fight was a striking fans dream, as the two fighters proved to be compatible dance partners inside the octagon. For 15 minutes, fans were treated to a beautiful display of footwork, feints, and precision striking. In the end though, the Last Stylebender showed he was the better fighter that night and deserved his shot at the belt.

Dana White fulfilled his promise to Adesanya by booking a match-up between him and Kelvin Gastelum for the interim middleweight belt.

Israel Adesanya attained the interim middleweight belt after defeating Kelvin Gastelum by unanimous decision at UFC 236. The fight was one for the ages and ranks amongst the best title fights in UFC history. Izzy faced adversity throughout the fight and was even knocked down and wobbled, but his performance in the fifth round is that of a legend.

Seconds after the fight, with the belt around his waist, Adesanya told Joe Rogan “I was ready for war.” A certified star was made that night in Atlanta and his name is Israel Adesanya.

Stylebender’s next fight against Robert Whittaker would be a record breaker. Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia would host the middleweight title unification bout that broke the all-time attendance record (57,127 people). Many people thought Adesanya would struggle against the well-rounded and durable Whittaker, but that was not the case. Adesanya kept the fight at his preferred distance and knocked Whittaker down in the final seconds of the first round. The second round was similar to the first in that Whittaker struggled to find the range for his right hand, while Israel continued to land strikes. Adesanya finished the fight late in the second round with a stunning combination ending with a left hook and Whittaker on the canvas.

An athlete cannot become a legend without making memories that last forever. In less than two years, Israel Adesanya has been on the right side of several iconic moments which has elevated his star status.

This Saturday, Adesanya has a chance to etch out another classic moment for himself when he takes on Yoel Romero. Few fighters on this earth would have the guts to fight Romero, but Adesanya asked for the opportunity.

From his demeanor and personality outside the octagon to his all-time talent in it, Israel Adesanya has all the makings of a UFC legend.

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