Israel Adesanya put in a breakout performance on this present day seven years ago.
Neither conversations concerning the UFC’s top stars nor debates over the all-time middleweight greats can occur without Adesanya being brought up.
In a profession that has seen him grow to be a legendary two-time champion at 185 kilos, ‘The Last Stylebender’ once enjoyed a historic 12-fight winning streak within the division.
The most effective displays on that run got here at UFC 230 on this present day, November 3, in 2018. Before Daniel Cormier beat Derrick Lewis to successfully defend the heavyweight title within the primary event, Adesanya made an announcement with how he dispatched of a distinguished middleweight veteran.
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Israel Adesanya punished Derek Brunson at UFC 230 for ‘icing’ him years prior
Adesanya was on loads of fight fans’ radars after wins over Rob Wilkinson, Marvin Vettori, and Brad Tavares to kick off his profession in mixed martial arts’ top promotion. But it surely was his fourth UFC fight that basically signaled the ex-kickboxer as a future star.
At the long-lasting Madison Square Garden in Latest York City, the Nigerian-Latest Zealander picked up one in all UFC 230’s performance bonuses with a brutal finish of Derek Brunson.
In the ultimate minute of round one, Adesanya badly hurt Brunson with knees before eventually dropping him twice in quick succession with punches to secure the TKO stoppage.
Watching back the vicious finish, color commentator Joe Rogan made it clear what he considered Adesanya’s work.
“That’s technique,” Rogan said on the published. “That’s ‘The Last Stylebender’, folks.
“That was a giant test for him tonight, and he got an A-plus…sensational.” he added.
Judging by his pre-fight remarks, the then-future UFC middleweight champion likely didn’t have much sympathy for his stricken opponent.
Within the lead-up to UFC 230, Adesanya revealed some surprise animosity with Brunson, claiming the American had ignored him during a temporary in-person meeting three years prior.
“In Auckland, it’s Kiwi country, there’s probably not many black people,” Adesanya told Bloody Elbow.
“So there’s an unwritten etiquette amongst black those who, while you see one another, you form of give this nod of acknowledgement. I saw him, and I just nodded at him like what’s up, and he iced me.
“At that moment, I knew I used to be (eventually) gonna fight this guy. He’s a s— c—. Even back then in 2015, he knew who I used to be. It shows all these motherf—- already know me, but they’re too scared to say my name,” he added.
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Israel Adesanya’s next UFC fight
Seven years on from that lead to Madison Square Garden, the now-legendary UFC middleweight has found himself on a difficult run.
Adesanya’s knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov this past February marked his third consecutive defeat, leaving him winless since regaining the 185-pound belt from Alex Pereira in April 2023.
Having dismissed those calling for his retirement, ‘The Last Stylebender’ initially set his sights on a rematch with Sean Strickland — the person who quickly ended his second middleweight reign two years ago.
But having not received a positive response from the American, Adesanya has moved on. He told Submission Radio in September that he’s now willing to face whomever the UFC puts forward for his next fight.