MMA: Israel Adesanya scores superb 4th defense of UFC 253 title
Nigerian fighter Israel Adesanya, UFC middleweight champion, here in February 2019. Andy Brownbill / AP Photo
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
4 min
Middleweight champion at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Israel Adesanya signed a demonstration, Sunday, September 27, in his 4th fight in defense of his title.
In Abu Dhabi, the Nigerian swept his opponent Paulo Costa in two short rounds, with a violent knockout to finish.
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"
A lesson from the middleweight king
": it was with these words that Francis Ngannou, UFC heavyweight star, called the big fight of the meeting held in Abu Dhabi on Sunday 27 September.
The UFC 253 poster between
Israel Adesanya
and Paulo Costa was worth the detour.
Especially for fans of the "Style Bender", who was putting his belt back on for the 4th time.
THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS.
THERE ARE NO DEBATES. @ Stylebender is the true king 🏆 # UFC253 pic.twitter.com/UGO1Bfdhli
UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
A devastating second round from Adesanya
A follower of trashtalking (verbal provocation), Israel Adesanya joined deeds to words in the almost empty room - coronavirus requires - of Yas Island, in the United Arab Emirates.
Unbeaten in 13 fights in the UFC, Brazilian Paulo Costa wanted to show that his power could take him to the top of the category.
But the one who settled on the throne a year and a half ago (conquering the
belt by interim
in April 2019, unification of the title in October 2019) left him no chance.
After a quiet first round where Adesanya controlled the distance with leg kicks, everything suddenly accelerated in the second round.
The champion insisted with low kicks before finding the opening and landing a violent kick in the face of Costa.
The Brazilian had the right eyebrow arch exploded.
Weakened, the challenger did not resist: a cons of Adesanya sent him to the mat.
And once on the ground, the Nigerian beat him up, until the referee decides to stop the fight, on a technical knockout therefore.
The celebration has begun for @Stylebender 🏆 # UFC253 pic.twitter.com/VCEzBfRwZo
UFC (@ufc) September 27, 2020
"I remind you that I am the best"
Always so provocative, Israel Adesanya allowed himself a small obscene gesture to humiliate his defeated opponent.
It should be remembered all the same that the two men had insulted each other a lot in recent days, Paulo Costa promising to "
destroy
" the Nigerian in less than three rounds ... Goguenard, the champion continued his celebration by signing some nice movement of breakdance in the ring.
Israel Adesanya was keen to respond to the criticisms leveled against him after his third defense of his title, last March,
against Yoel Romero
.
The fight was very disappointing, between a challenger with very little offensive and a champion who was content to control.
"
I had to remind you that I am the best,
" said the Nigerian, at the microphone in the ring after the fight.
The undisputed master of middleweights today, the "Style Bender" is now awaiting his next opponent, who could be Jared Cannonier.
“
He's a good guy.
If he demolishes Robert Whittaker, he's the next one I'll face.
He deserves it,
”he said.
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