UFC: how do you beat Israel Adesanya? ‘Keep your composure … his skills aren’t crazy good’
- The Post takes a look at the fighters ruling the MMA world – and hears from other fighters how they might plot their demise
- ‘The Last Stylebender’ has a target on his back in the UFC’s middleweight division, and Marvin Vettori says he’s ‘definitely not unbeatable’
Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya’s rise to the UFC’s middleweight title might have taken just seven fights and less than two years to achieve but it was a lifetime in the planning and preparation.
The 30-year-old often talks about how each step was laid out meticulously, from when he was a kick boxer taking on all-comers in China, to the domestic MMA leagues there and back home in New Zealand and in Australia, and then on to picking the exact moment to sign on and make his debut with the UFC.
“He’s a great fighter,” said American Brad Tavares (17-6), who lost to Adesanya via decision after five rounds in July 2018, three fights into the Kiwi’s UFC run.
“I think he’s really smart in his approach in getting to the UFC. He was offered the shot a while back and he knew it wasn’t his time. He was patient, honed his craft and obviously it shows.”
Adesanya says he’s even prepared for when things go wrong, and knows how he will respond to disappointment. There hasn’t been any of that yet – as a record of 19-0 would attest – but there have been moments, flashes, that have given hope to those who have faced Adesanya in the past, and hope to do so in the future.