Sunday Star-Times

‘Let’s take risks’: Inside Israel’s bid for greatness

The Last Stylebende­r could have played it safe but a decision to step into unchartere­d territory’ has him on the verge of UFC history today, writes Marvin France.

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As Israel Adesanya looks to cement his place in UFC history, his coach Eugene Bareman has given an insight into the philosophy pushing the MMA sensation to continue to hit new heights.

Adesanya takes on Jan Blachowicz in Las Vegas today with the chance to become the first mixed martial artist to win the UFC middleweig­ht and lightheavy­weight belts, while becoming just the fifth person in the promotion to hold two world titles at the same time.

The fact he’s reached this level in just three years in the promotion speaks volumes about his exceptiona­l talent, not to mention the possibilit­y of more to come.

While a move up in weight was always likely at some stage, Adesanya could have bided his time and notched up more title defences in the middleweig­ht division. Two of the UFC’s all-time greats, Georges St-Pierre and Jon Jones, spent a decade in their respective weight classes before venturing up, and there did not appear to be any external pressure from the UFC to make the move.

But as Baremen explained, Adesanya doesn’t play it safe. And as soon as his team pitched the idea of a fresh challenge shortly after last September’s knockout win over Paulo Costa, he needed little convincing.

‘‘Let’s go, let’s live life. Let’s do something that no one else has done,’’ Bareman said of Adesanya’s approach in making the step up to meet the lightheavy­weight champion.

‘‘That speaks to his whole philosophy on life. Let’s take risks, let’s challenge ourselves, let’s go into unchartere­d territory and try to do what people don’t think we can do. That’s what it says to me.

‘‘It’s part of him cementing his place in history, part of him doing something that people think he can’t do. That’s the philosophy he’s lived his life by and it’s just fun to be a part of.’’

While Adesanya’s (20-0) middleweig­ht belt is not on the line against Blachowicz (27-8), there is still plenty at stake for the Nigerian-Kiwi.

A loss to the Polish powerhouse would not only ruin his undefeated record but damage his status as one of the UFC’s brightest stars, particular­ly if he lost via KO.

There is a 9kg difference between Adesanya’s regular division (84kg) and light-heavyweigh­t (93kg). And with ‘The Last Stylebende­r’ opting not to bulk up for the move, he will concede significan­t advantages in weight and strength.

Combined with

Blachowicz’s

noted knockout power and his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Bareman is expecting their toughest test to date.

‘‘It’s not the myriad of weight classes that there are in boxing, separated by a few pounds,’’ the City Kickboxing trainer said. ‘‘There’s only a few weight classes and you’ve got to go up – or down – significan­tly to get that next belt. So it’s a hard task.

‘‘Every single fight we anticipate that one opponent that’s going to be able to close that gap and put us into territory that we haven’t necessaril­y been in so much.

‘‘For this fight we have that same expectatio­n, that Jan’s going to be the guy, with his physicalit­y and his size, to be able to close that distance, push Israel against the cage and maybe even take him down. We’ve definitely prepared for those facets of the game.’’

That potential for the battle to go to the ground is one of the more intriguing aspects of the matchup.

Various MMA experts have identified grappling as the one

area where the Kiwi could be exposed. Truth is, no one has been able to keep Adesanya, with his 86 per cent takedown defence, on the mat long enough to really know.

After spending five weeks training at the renowned Atos HQ in San Diego late last year, earning his purple belt in Brazilian jiujitsu, Adesanya urged Blachowicz to test out his ground game.

‘‘If you want to jump in the pit, ‘the hole in my game’, you want to see how deep that hole goes, then be my guest,’’ he said. ‘‘By the time they find out it’s a trap, it’ll be too late.’’ Despite the significan­t step up in weight, Adesanya has been wary of making any drastic changes to his preparatio­n, hence the decision not to pile on the pounds.

He weighed in, wearing sweat pants, almost 2kg lighter than Blachowicz, who tipped the scales right on the light-heavyweigh­t limit. Blachowicz told ESPN he would add about 7kg by the time they enter the octagon, while Adesanya’s weight isn’t expected to change too much.

Having fought as high as heavyweigh­t in kickboxing, Adesanya knows he faces a different level of power compared to his previous opponents. But the same could be said for Blachowicz when it comes to handling Adesanya’s speed and arguably the most diverse stand-up game in the UFC.

Adesanya also has a 5cm edge in both height and reach as he looks to prove there is no substitute for skill and technique, regardless of the weight class.

‘‘You definitely feel a difference in power with glancing shots when they hit you or hit your arm. But also you feel the difference in speed,’’ he said.

‘‘They’re a lot slower. They take a little while to get to their target. The pace is a lot different at that weight and it’s fun for me.

‘‘He says ‘Polish power is legendary’, but everyone has power. I just don’t want to get touched by anyone.’’

Adesanya-Blachowicz is the headline act of a stacked UFC 259 card that features a total of three title fights. Two of Adesanya’s City Kickboxing teammates are also in action. Kai Kara-France takes on Rogerio Bontorin in a top-10 flyweight clash, while lightheavy­weight Carlos Ulberg makes his promotiona­l debut against Kennedy Nzechukwu.

 ??  ?? Jan Blachowicz (Poland), at left, and Israel Adesanya at the weigh-in.
Jan Blachowicz (Poland), at left, and Israel Adesanya at the weigh-in.

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