Israel Adesanya has cruised to a decision victory over Marvin Vettori at UFC 263 in Arizona.
The Kiwi champion made it look easy on the feet, dominating the striking exchanges and defending the takedowns from Vetorri against the fence.
The Italian had his moments in the fight, getting Adesanya to the ground on two occasions but ultimately unable to inflict any damage. Adesanya showed improvements of his back sweeping Vetorri from the bottom and easily getting back to his feet.
And still!!!
Izzy keeps the middleweight strap and says he wants Rob Whittaker in Auckland next pic.twitter.com/d632GMwbrl
— Fight News Australia (@fightnewsaus) June 13, 2021
Adesanya highlighted why is one of the most masterful strikers the UFC has ever seen. Although he didn’t ultimately get the KO win he would have wanted, his materfull distance control and leg kicks accumulated on Vettori, shutting down any of his attacks.
In the end, the judges scored the fight 50-45 to Adesanya, the middleweight champion bouncing back after his first career loss to Jan Blachowicz for the light-heavyweight title.
In the post fight interview with Joe Rogan, Adesanya called for a rematch with Austalia’s first ever UFC champion Robert Whittaker to take place in Auckland.
“My arch nemesis, that other c*nt, what’s his name [Robert] Whittaker, ‘Bobby Knuckles,,” Adesanya said. “I don’t know what the f*ck’s going to happen with this whole COVID sh*t but we need to run that back in Auckland. We need to run that back in my territory this time.
“I’ll tell you when it is. You don’t get to decide, I get to decide — cause why… I’m the motherf*cking king, b*tch.”
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