Kiwi makes impact on his UFC debut
Kiwi middleweight sensation Israel Adesanya has showed the rest of the world what all the fuss is about with a spectacular UFC debut in Perth.
Adesanya produced a brutal display of striking to stop Australian Rob Wilkinson in the second round during the UFC 221 prelims.
The Nigerian-born New Zealander stepped into the octagon for the first time with no shortage of expectation on his shoulders following a stellar kickboxing career and winning his previous 11 MMA bouts all inside the distance.
But ‘The Stylebender’ more than lived up to the hype, extending that remarkable record to put the division on notice.
‘‘I just want to stay something to the UFC fighters,’’ Adesanya said immediately after the fight. ‘‘I see you guys creeping on my Instagram, you’re watching me and I’ve been watching you, but when you see me you act like you don’t know me. ‘‘Boy, you know who I am now.’’ A specialist grappler, Wilkinson (11-2) had a clear strategy of trying to take the fight to the ground.
He did well to keep Adesanya pressed against the cage for much of the first round, scoring a couple of takedowns without being able to keep his rival pinned down.
It was only a matter of time, though, before Adesanya’s lethal stand-up game came to the fore.
Having split Wilkinson open with several thunderous head kicks, Adesanya proceeded to pick him off at will with a barrage of varied attacks before the referee stepped in 3:37 into the second round.
‘‘I think four guys turned us down,’’ said Adesanya, who inked a four-fight deal with the UFC in December.
‘‘[Wilkinson] was the only guy to take us so when someone steps up and they know who they’re messing with you think he must have something up his sleeve - but not tonight.
‘‘It’s the same thing, just a different cage.’’
Meanwhile, fellow Kiwi Luke Jumeau is back on track after a gritty comeback victory over Japan’s Daichi Abe.
Jumeau’s seven-fight winning streak came to an end in Japan last September courtesy of a unanimous decision defeat to another Japanese fighter, Shinsho Anzai.
The 29-year-old welterweight looked to be heading the same way after a slow first round yesterday. But on the back of a clinical counterattacking performance, he dug deep to record a unanimous decision and hand Abe (6-1) the first loss of his career.
‘‘I knew he was fading and that I had the advantage over him but he’s a really dangerous fighter,’’ Jumeau said. ‘‘ He was undefeated for a reason.’’
Following the defeat to Anzai, Jumeau linked up with experienced Auckland trainer Lolo Heimuli and, after surviving the early onslaught, the benefits were clear to see.
Jumeau improved his record to 13-4 and after an impressive win over Dominique Steele in his UFC debut in Auckland last year, the Hamilton fighter is now 2-1 in the promotion and ready to resume his rise up the ranks.
‘‘Lolo’s helped me a lot. I’ve been able to focus on my strengths for this fight and he’s been there the whole way, giving his heart and time,’’ Jumeau said.
‘‘He doesn’t really know me and I love him for it.’’
Abe dominated the first round, catching Jumeau coming in before unleashing some heavy ground and pound.
‘The Jedi’ did well to make it to the bell but Abe could not continue his furious pace.
That is where Jumeau’s counter strikes came into play and he began to take control.
An accidental poke on an already-bloodied eye saw Jumeau call for time in third.
But he shrugged off the delay, storming home in the final minute with several vicious leg kicks.
He almost secured the finish in the final seconds only for Abe to be saved by the bell, with all three judges awarding the fight in Jumeau’s favour (29-28, 29-27, 28-27).
Israel Adesanya