It may have taken a little longer than many expected for Israel Adesanya to make his UFC debut, but now that he is in the world’s premier organisation, you better get used to seeing him.
Adesanya (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) recently showcased to the world what elite level kickboxing can look like inside the mixed martial arts cage when he easily dismantled Rob Wilkinson this past February at UFC 221 in Perth. A quick turnaround will allow him to attempt to do it all over again this Sunday (AEST) at UFC Fight Night Glendale.
“Straight after the fight, I just told Euge (Adesanya’s coach Eugene Bareman), I’m fresh,” Adesanya told MMA Junkie’s John Morgan.
“I want to do 4 this year, maybe 5. We want to do 4 or 5, so yeah we’re not f**king around.”
Adesanya is not new to staying busy, in 2016 he fought close to 25 times. Fighting smart is what he believes gives him the ability to stay active.
“Having a quick turnaround is nothing,” Adesanya said.
“The way I fight, I’m not dumb, I don’t fight like these bums. I fight smart, I stay uninjured and I’m able to get into the gym straight away so, yeah I want a quick turnaround and now I am.”
????????New Zealand's @StyleBender looking for his second-straight win inside the Octagon ????#UFCGlendale pic.twitter.com/kWKGStC4zp
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) April 12, 2018
The quick turnaround comes against Italy’s Marvin Vettori (12-3-1 MMA, 2-1-1 UFC), a talented young prospect in his own right, Vettori has stated that he is confident he can fight on the feet with Adesanya, which is something the Kiwi laughs at.
“This guy I think, I know his ego, what’s his name, Marvin? He will try and bang with me but then within like, I give it a minute, he will start shooting – guaranteed,” Adesanya said.
The obvious route to victory against Adesanya is to try and take him to the ground and keep him there. But Adesanya welcomes the challenge, it’s the reason he started MMA instead of staying in the comfort zone that kickboxing would have allowed him.
“I never want to feel vulnerable in any situation,” Adesanya said.
“Even if I’m the best striker in the world, some blue belt could own me without a single punch so, I just know that I want to be the best, and be the best fighter, not just the best striker, be the best fighter in the world. So, I’m here to prove that I’m the best fighter in the world.”
Israel Adesanya v Marvin Vettori will be live on Fox Sports 5 and UFC Fight Pass this Sunday at 10AM (AEST). Dustin Poirier v Justin Gaethje will serve as the main event.
