Adesanya’s dance moves taking the UFC by storm
At the start of the year Israel Adesanya had yet to even appear in the UFC. Seven months later, he is now the main event.
Today, at the The Ultimate Fighter finale in Las Vegas, the 28-year-old Nigerian-born Kiwi joins an exclusive club when he headlines a card in just his third UFC appearance, against eighthranked middleweight Brad Tavares.
He follows in the footsteps of Irish superstar Conor McGregor and it’s a phenomenal rise by anyone’s standards. That is, except to the man himself.
Adesanya has been expecting this moment for some time. ‘‘They’re late to the party,’’ ‘The Last Stylebender’ told Stuff. ‘‘It’s good that the company now sees what we’ve already known. So the stock keeps rising and after this fight it’s going to shoot up triple-fold.’’
After amassing a staggering 75-4 record in a glittering kickboxing career and winning his first 11 MMA bouts inside the distance, Adesanya was already established as one of the best combat sports athletes outside of the UFC.
That was confirmed with a dazzling promotional debut in February, stopping Aussie Rob Wilkinson in the second round, before a gritty decision win against Italian Marvin Vettori.
With such an impressive CV, it was always going to be a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ he would make a splash in the octagon. It’s why he laughs at suggestions from some rivals that he’s being pushed along too quickly.
‘‘They don’t know about my history, they don’t know about my background and they don’t know the work I’ve been doing. They just think I am two fights deep in this,’’ Adesanya said.
‘‘I’ve been taking bodies all over the world. Have a look at my body of work and you will realise that I’m ready for these guys, these guys aren’t ready for me.’’
After inking a four-fight deal with the UFC last December, it hasn’t taken long for president Dana White to realise just what a prospect he has on his hands.
Adesanya’s flamboyant fighting style coupled with his charismatic personality is a promoter’s dream.
Questions remain about his grappling, which is sure to be tested by 11-year veteran Tavares. But that is more than compensated for by exceptional speed, precision and footwork, tied together with a tremendous fight IQ honed by head trainer Eugene Bareman.
Tall and rangy, Adesanya sets himself apart with a unique set of striking techniques and when at his best, he moves with a mesmerising flow that has its origins in his days as a dancer.
‘‘I got back into it a little bit last year and for me, the muscle memory in dance is second to none.
‘‘They know their bodies and that correlates to fighting in a way that when I learn drills my body is able to retain it quicker and I am able to just flow and be off instinct.
‘‘Timing, creativity, off beat, on beat, all that kind of stuff just relates to fighting and that’s why these guys can’t catch me.’’