Adesanya retains middleweight title
Nigerian-born mixed martial artist Israel ‘The Last Style-bender’ Adesanya retained his middleweight title with a comprehensive unanimous decision win over Marvin Vettori in the main event at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona in the wee hours of yesterday morning.
It was an impressive showing from Adesanya, who got back to winning ways after losing to Jan Blachowicz in a light heavyweight title fight some weeks ago. It was a re-match between Adesanya and Vettori, with the Nigerian winning via split decision in April 2018. The result of that bout was questionable, but that was certainly not the case this time.
Adesanya showed his class as he picked apart his Italian opponent with stinging calf-kicks, pin-point accuracy with his punches and a much improved take-down defence.
Following the bout, Adesanya dedicated his victory to his teammate Fau Vake, a promising up-and-coming fighter who died in May from injuries sustained in an alleged attack in Auckland, New Zealand.
“I just want to say Fau Vake, Fau Vake, Fau Vake, I love you, man... This fight I dedicate to you, Fau,” said the Nigerian-born fighter.
Adesanya then said he wanted his next title defence to come against Australia’s former champion Robert Whittaker, but on condition that the fight takes place in Adesanya’s hometown of Auckland after Adesanya dethroned Whittaker in Melbourne in their first meeting.
“I don’t know what the (expletive) is gonna happen with Covid. We need to run that back in Auckland, in my territory this time. I’ll tell you what it is, I get to decide, you don’t get to decide, because why? I’m the (expletive) king.”