All eyes on Kiwi’s debut in UFC

TIMING is everything in combat sports and Israel Adesanya believes he has timed his UFC arrival to perfection.

The 28-year-old will become the latest Kiwi to enter the octagon when he squares off against Australian Rob Wilkinson at UFC 221 in Perth today.

Seen as the most exciting prospect in New Zealand mixed martial arts, the UFC has been chasing Adesanya since 2015 but the Nigerian-born striker, who moved to Rotorua when he was 10, was happy to bide his time.

Adesanya developed his craft during an extensive kickboxing career, including fighting for the Glory middleweight title, as well as finishing his first 11 MMA bouts inside the distance.

But having signed a four-fight contract with the UFC at the end of last year, all roads lead to this moment.

‘‘I think it was really important for me to get my experience outside the UFC before I jump in the shark tank,’’ Adesanya said. ‘‘Now is the time. I just feel like I’ve just hit my prime, maybe just on the cusp of it, and it’s go time.

‘‘I took the hard road and I like the challenge as well. I could have just stayed in kickboxing and run up a crazy record but I want to challenge myself every day and evolve.’’

Adesanya’s UFC debut has generated significant buzz in combat sports circles.

Kiwi heavyweight legend Mark Hunt has no doubt.

The former K-1 champion says Adesanya is ‘‘world class’’ and believes he has the perfect training ground at Auckland’s City Kickboxing gym.

‘‘He does stuff that other fighters can’t do. I watched his kickboxing and I was like ‘wow’,’’ Hunt said.

‘‘It was just a matter of time before the UFC picked him up. He’s an amazing talent and there’s a lot of good fighters coming through from this side of the world.’’

Adesanya’s stand-up is a lethal mix of speed, precision and elusive footwork, which has its roots in his days in dance.

‘‘I started dancing for a few years – krump, b-boying, popping . . . And that dancing parlays into fighting easily because my muscle memory is able to remember sequences.’’

His fighting style has been compared to UFC greats Anderson Silva and Jon Jones. He even helped former American light-heavyweight Anthony Johnson prepare for a title fight against Jones in 2015.

And while Adesanya has taken inspiration from such big names, he wants to forge his own path.

‘‘I looked up to Anderson for years and still do. But I’m not him,’’ Adesanya said.