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UFC: how do you beat Israel Adesanya? ‘Keep your composure … his skills aren’t crazy good’

South China Morning Post

發布於 2020年04月01日10:04 • Mathew Scott
  • The Post takes a look at the fighters ruling the MMA world – and hears from other fighters how they might plot their demise
  • ‘The Last Stylebender’ has a target on his back in the UFC’s middleweight division, and Marvin Vettori says he’s ‘definitely not unbeatable’
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya poses on the scale during a ceremonial weigh-in for UFC 248. Photo: AP
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya poses on the scale during a ceremonial weigh-in for UFC 248. Photo: AP

Israel "The Last Stylebender" Adesanya's rise to the UFC's middleweight title might have taken just seven fights and less than two years to achieve but it was a lifetime in the planning and preparation.

The 30-year-old often talks about how each step was laid out meticulously, from when he was a kick boxer taking on all-comers in China, to the domestic MMA leagues there and back home in New Zealand and in Australia, and then on to picking the exact moment to sign on and make his debut with the UFC.

"He's a great fighter," said American Brad Tavares (17-6), who lost to Adesanya via decision after five rounds in July 2018, three fights into the Kiwi's UFC run.

"I think he's really smart in his approach in getting to the UFC. He was offered the shot a while back and he knew it wasn't his time. He was patient, honed his craft and obviously it shows."

Israel Adesanya celebrates after defeating Yoel Romero at UFC 248. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Israel Adesanya celebrates after defeating Yoel Romero at UFC 248. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Adesanya says he's even prepared for when things go wrong, and knows how he will respond to disappointment. There hasn't been any of that yet " as a record of 19-0 would attest " but there have been moments, flashes, that have given hope to those who have faced Adesanya in the past, and hope to do so in the future.

Looking back at Adesanya's seven UFC bouts we can safely rule out his first title defence in terms of helping find ways to beat the man. Against Cuba's Yoel "Solider of God" Romero (13-5) in Las Vegas on March 7, Adesanya was for the most part chasing shadows, as Romero refused to engage.

Israel Adesanya throws a punch at Yoel Romero during their UFC 248 main event at T-Mobile Arena. Photo: USA TODAY Sports
Israel Adesanya throws a punch at Yoel Romero during their UFC 248 main event at T-Mobile Arena. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

The Nigerian-born Kiwi blew Australia's Robert "The Reaper" Whittaker (20-5) away until finishing him off with a TKO at 3:33 of the second round in their title match at UFC 243 last October. Before that he'd taken the very best both Brazilian Anderson "The Spider" Silva (34-10, one no contest) and America's Kelvin Gastelum (15-5, one no contest) had to throw at him and still kept finding ways to pick them apart on his was to unanimous decisions.

"He was more durable than I thought," Gastelum told the Post last year. "I cracked him pretty good and he didn't go down. He stepped up when I couldn't and he gained a lot of respect for that. As a competitor, I have a whole new perspective on him and respect for him and I'd love to get back in there with him."

The fighter who has come closest to breaking Adesanya's remarkable run was the mercurial Marvin "The Italian Dream" Vettori (14-4-1), who fought all the way to a split decision just two fight's into Adesanya's UFC career.

Israel Adesanya lands a punch on Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236. Photo: AFP
Israel Adesanya lands a punch on Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236. Photo: AFP

"It was a split-decision loss that I don't think was a loss," said Vettori, who " like Tavares " was speaking to those gathered at the Dominance MMA media day before Adesanya's title defence against Romero.

"I think what Israel has over a lot of other guys is composure," Vettori explained. "He can keep his own in the cage. He might look skinny and you think you can back him up, but he can actually hold his own. He has good composure, mental and physical composure. His skills are good but not crazy good.

"Seeing what I did to him not that long ago, I haven't seen him that much improved. I mean he's definitely a good athlete. The fact he had such a long career in kick-boxing gives him an edge in striking. He has good strength and a good understanding of his hips. He's able to defend takedowns pretty good. So he's game but he's definitely not unbeatable."

Israel Adesanya uses his range against Robert Whittaker at UFC 243. Photo: EPA
Israel Adesanya uses his range against Robert Whittaker at UFC 243. Photo: EPA

Vettori had trouble with Adesanya's range and his length in their bout, and the Kiwi is a genius at playing to those strengths " using his height (at 6ft4) and rapier-like reach (80 inch) to do most of the damage. But the Italian quite obviously wants another crack " and said one thing he had learned is you have to have your mind right.

"I feel like a lot of guys check out mentally when they fight him and that's why he has an edge, too," he said. "A lot of guys get fooled by the height. A lot of guys get into to the fight and they're not themselves.

"If you can show up mentally and physically against him, be calm and composed and see things as they are, you can do good. His skills are not unbelievable. What he has is mental and physical composure, which is a skill most of the champions have and it's a skill that you need."

Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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