'He's the man': Israel Adesanya dominates Robert Whittaker at UFC 243
Israel Adesanya has made one hell of a statement at UFC 243, dominating Robert Whittaker to win the UFC Middleweight championship in just two rounds.
The rising star’s emphatic win extended his professional record to 18-0 and a potential matchup with Paulo Borrachinha.
Whittaker was on the back foot from the get-go against Adesanya, having been ruled out of an earlier title defence against Kevin Gastelum due to medical reasons.
'THAT WAS SCARY': Aussie fighter cops sickening KO at UFC 243
'PRAYING FOR YOU': Boxing legend Jeff Fenech rushed to hospital in Thailand
The Sydney-based fighter was lucky to make it out of first round, quite literally saved by the bell as Adesanya dropped him to the canvas late in the opening stanza.
Adesanya drops Whittaker as the horn sounds in round 1! Wow! #UFC243 pic.twitter.com/lR0ss8amj8
— UFC (@ufc) October 6, 2019
A ripping left hook from Adesanya in the second round meant it was game over for Whittaker, who looked out of sorts for much of the bout.
He had few answers for an active and strong counter game from Adesanya, who largely let Whittaker control the pace of the fight, before capitalising on his opportunities to strike.
Speaking in the ring after the fight, Adesanya left the crowd under no illusions as to who he wanted to face.
“You know who’s next. I have a heavy Ricky Martin wannabe next. Borrachinha. This is my Octagon. I’m going to smash him. I want to rearrange his face,” he said.
Fellow UFC fighters, as well as fans, were left impressed by the display.
Daniel Cormier: "Israel Adesanya has that thing. We have to get together and watch him. He has the charisma and personality. He's just the man." #UFC243
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) October 6, 2019
Got damn! #andnew
— Luis Antonio Pena (@violentbobross) October 6, 2019
Wow.. @stylebender is that man! #UFC243
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) October 6, 2019
What a performance by The Stylebender, Impressive! #UFC243
— Dominick Reyes (@DomReyes) October 6, 2019
Dominick Cruz on Israel Adesanya: "What can you say about him? He put on a show on the way out, he put on a show in there and then he put on a show on the way out. What more could you ask for? That's what this sport needs." #UFC243
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) October 6, 2019
My thinking on Adesanya is the same as my thinking on Nurmagomedov. You know what he's going to offer. However, stopping him is a different story. #UFC243
— Trent Reinsmith (@TrentReinsmith) October 6, 2019
Israel Adesanya needed this to confirm what many probably already knew. He is an MMA Super 💫 #UFC243
— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) October 6, 2019
Adesanya just had the perfect performance! Rolling the punches, keeping his distance and watching for that overhand. Hit a few beautiful kicks, so pleased for him! What a journey this has been!!! You are a legend!!! @stylebender !! #UFCMelbourne #UFC243
— Pєℓтѕмαη (@Peltsman) October 6, 2019
Tough showing for Aussie fighters
The local fighters have experienced a mixed start to UFC 243 in Melbourne, with Aussie Nadia Kassem on the receiving end of a brutal loss.
Kassem was beaten by Ji Yeon Kim late in the second round of their flyweight bout at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
The referee stopped the fight with just one second left in the round after Kassem received a number of brutal punches that left her bleeding from the nose.
This long finishing sequence was a little hard to watch pic.twitter.com/KP51jyLC2W
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 5, 2019
[Join or create a 2019 Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for free today]
“The long finishing sequence was a little hard to watch,” ESPN’s MMA expert Ariel Helwani tweeted.
Kassem was distraught as she left the Octagon - her record now 1-2 with both losses in Australia.