UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya receives jiu-jitsu purple belt
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya continues to take his skillset to the next level.
On Tuesday morning, Adesanya took to Instagram to reveal that he’s been awarded his jiu-jitsu purple belt from his coach Andre Galvao. Adesanya’s teammate and UFC lightweight Brad Riddell also earned his purple belt.
Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), who is undefeated in his pro MMA career, has never won a fight by submission. So far, all 15 of his finishes have come via knockout, most recently stopping Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in September for his second successful middleweight title defense.
At the weigh-ins face-off, jiu-jitsu blackbelt Costa took aim at Adesanya’s ground game by throwing a white belt at him. Though Adesanya didn’t submit Costa, he was able to mount him after dropping him, and finished the fight with ground and pound.
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UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya receives jiu-jitsu purple belt
