Israel Adesanya’s rise to the top of the UFC’s middleweight division has been nothing short of spectacular, and it’s even more impressive when you consider he’s done it in less than two years on the roster.
Impressive enough in his first 12 months in the big show to earn MMA Junkie’s 2018 “Newcomer of the Year,” Adesanya (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) followed up with a calendar’s worth of excellence that sees him now take home 2019’s “Male Fighter of the Year.”
The Nigerian-born New Zealander opened his 2019 campaign by defeating a legend in Anderson Silva, a moment “The Last Stylebender” admitted was especially mind-blowing for him as an admitted fan of “The Spider.” While Silva is certainly on the tail end of his legendary career, the pairing of flashy styles made for an entertaining affair. Adesanya treated fans to a moment of bravado that will likely last as an iconic image of his career, placing his left arm behind his back and channeling Japanese anime character Rock Lee while becoming the first man to out-theatricalize Silva.
UFC 234: Israel Adesanya vs. Anderson Silva
The February 2019 bout, of course, was given extra significance because it was elevated to headlining status at UFC 234 in Australia when then-middleweight champ Robert Whittaker was forced to withdraw from the card on the day of the event and rushed into emergency surgery. The added spotlight didn’t faze Adesanya in the slightest. If anything, it was simply an opportunity to see how bright he shines in the spotlight.
Just two months later, Adesanya was back in action in a battles for the ages. With an interim UFC belt on the line, Adesanya battled for 25 minutes with a durable and dangerous Kelvin Gastelum in a bout that pushed both men to their absolute limit and was named MMA Junkie’s “2019 Fight of the Year.”
Adesanya showed another aspect of his game in the contest – his heart – visibly mouthing the words, “I’m ready to die” before the start of pivotal fifth round. He then dazzled in the final frame, nearly finishing Gastelum but settling for a hard-fought decision win of a truly legendary battle for the ages.
UFC 236: Israel Adesanya vs. Kelvin Gastelum
His final performance of the year secured his position as the best of 2019. Returning to Australia to headline UFC 243 in front of more than 57,000 people, Adesanya was flawless. He danced his way into the cage, dropping jaws with a choreographed routine to make his way into the octagon. He then systematically picked apart Whittaker in a brilliant performance, scoring a second-round knockout and unifying the UFC middleweight titles.
Three fights, three wins, three fight-night bonus checks, two title belts.
Fighters such as Jorge Masvidal and Henry Cejudo had fantastic years, as well, and were certainly in the discussion for this honor. But the quality of Adesanya’s opposition and the way in which he handled them made “The Last Stylebender” the clear choice for MMA Junkie’s 2019 “Fighter of the Year.”
In an era where entertainment is a massive part of stardom in the sport, Adesanya brings a fan-friendly set of skills to the cage, but his quick wit on the mic and even in the social media world are all checks in his favor. Adesanya is the complete package who continues to improve each and every time. He appears willing to take on all challengers, as he’s proven with his callouts of middleweight juggernauts Paulo Costa and Yoel Romero. We look forward to seeing what Adesanya can accomplish in 2020, as well, because as good as he is, the undefeated champion still seems like a man on the rise.
MMA Junkie's 2019 'Male Fighter of the Year': Israel Adesanya continues mind-blowing run