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If the UFC relies on a superstar to fill the void left by fighters like Conor McGregor, Jon Jones or GSP, then they definitely trust Israel Adesanya. The 31-year-old from New Zealand has been crying since he made his UFC debut in 2018. The over-the-top train fell behind Adesanya after his first two fights. Where others could not justify the hype, Adesanya succeeded. In just two years, Adesanya has grown from a newcomer to a champion with two title defenses.
Adesanya returned to defend the title against undefeated Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in Abu Dhabi. There was bad blood between the two undefeated fighters as they exchanged “courtesies” at every opportunity they got. But when it comes to the octagon, there was only one winner. Adesanya (20-0) proved right and beat Costa (13-1) at UFC Fight Island.
There was no competition for the Kiwi as he bit Costa’s leg throughout the first round and the Brazilian had no answer for that. Costa tried to incite Adesanya to reckless abandonment, but to no avail. Adesanya chose his spots to perfection and when the right moment came he knocked Costa to the canvas with a forehand. A few hits and blows and the referee called off the fight in favor of Adesanya. As ‘Izzy’ as it sounds.
The victory was the ninth in a row in the UFC for Adesanya, the Nigerian-born and New Zealand-based phenomenon who has soared to prominence in mixed martial arts in the past three years.
In the UFC 253 co-main event, Jan Błachowicz (27-8), 37, capped his career growth by winning his first UFC title.
After controlling most of the action in a slow first round, Błachowicz ended it abruptly when he landed a high left hook to the side of Reyes’ head. Reyes staggered, tripped and fell, and Błachowicz quickly finished him off to the ground with 24 seconds left in the round.
Little-known flyweight Brandon Royval also had a standout win at Fight Island, stopping Kai Kara-France with a guillotine choke in the second round.
Adesanya won her title last year by beating Robert Whittaker, but she needed a redemptive performance after defending her belt last March with a wildly boring decision over Yoel Romero in Las Vegas.
The champion known as “The Last Stylebender” reminded the UFC of what it can do while dispatching Costa with ease.
The heavily muscled Costa opened the fight with arrogant arrogance, daring Adesanya to kick his lead leg by putting his hands behind his back. Adesanya strutted back to Costa, but kept his distance largely and hit Costa with kicks.
Costa’s hitting game never got going, and Adesanya exhausted him before finishing the fight.
While Adesanya was the favorite, Błachowicz’s victory was a surprise. He is the first fighter besides Jones or Daniel Cormier to hold the UFC light heavyweight title since 2011, when Jones began his shaky reign.
Błachowicz is a six-year Polish UFC veteran who earned this title shot with three consecutive victories, including arrests of former champion Luke Rockhold and Corey Anderson.
(with AP inputs)
