Defining Fights: UFC 259 headliner Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya’s rise to the top of the UFC middleweight division has been one of the sport’s biggest success stories over the last few years. Now the Kiwi striker plans on claiming championship success in a second weight class.

Adesanya (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) will challenge reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz (27-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) in the main event of UFC 259, which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Ahead of Adesanya’s bid for two-division glory, let’s take a look back at five fights that have helped define his UFC career to date.