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#2 Israel Adesanya vs Robert Whittaker - UFC 243
After securing the interim UFC middleweight championship with a masterful display against Kelvin Gastelum, Israel Adesanya squared off against Robert Whittaker in a unification bout. What followed was one of the best title-fight performances in UFC history as Adesanya snatched the strap with a second-round knockout of the Australian.
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As Whittaker struggled to close the distance against his rangier opponent, Adesanya picked him apart with a smart assortment of kicks and carefully timed counters. He dropped 'The Reaper' in the first round, and although Whittaker seemed to be adjusting to his timing, Adesanya landed a clean check hook to seal the deal.
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Whittaker went down, bloodied and almost completely out of it. Adesanya was crowned the undisputed UFC champion and he hasn't looked back since. He will meet his nemesis again in the coming months, this time as the champion.
#1 Israel Adesanya vs Kelvin Gastelum - UFC 236
Israel Adesanya's fight against Kelvin Gastelum deservedly takes the #1 spot on this list, although 'The Last Stylebender' nearly tasted defeat in this all-out war. Showing great heart and determination to clinch the hard-fought contest by virtue of an excellent fifth round, Adesanya tasted UFC gold for the first time.
Gastelum initiated most exchanges, relying on his incredible chin and well-rounded skillset to mix things up. The two men traded blows in almost every manner, with the Mexican-born fighter's resilience pushing Adesanya to the limit. Ahead of the fifth and final round, Adesanya could be seen mouthing "I'm prepared to die."
Adesanya landed three knockdowns in the final round as Gastelum hung on for dear life to put the fight in the judges' hands. All three judges scored it 49-46 as Adesanya was crowned the new UFC interim middleweight champion.
