Top 5 UFC Fighters of 2018

#2 Israel Adesanya

Undefeated at 15-0, Adesanya has been compared to a young Jon Jones or Anderson Silva

Easily the breakthrough star of 2018, Israel Adesanya is ranked at No. 2 on our list. Israel Adesanya's rise to the top has been nothing short of spectacular.

Undefeated at 15-0, Adesanya has been compared to a young Jon Jones or Anderson Silva and everyone fully expects this man to reach the top of the mountain at Middleweight soon.

"Stylebender" has become one of the marquee fighters and one of the biggest stars in the UFC with his unreal four wins and two knockouts in this year.

What is even more spectacular is the fact that Adesanya wasn't even on the UFC roster before this year.

A former Pro-Kickboxer, Israel Adesanya fought his first UFC fight in February 2018 at UFC 221 where he knocked Rob Wilkinson out in the second round.

Adesanya went on to fight Marvin Vettori at UFC on FOX 29: Glendale. Adesanya came out on top narrowly with a split decision victory but still caught the eyes of the MMA world as he showcased some of the best striking techniques we have ever seen in the Octagon.

Adesanya's breakthrough moment came when he fought the dangerous No. 8 ranked Brad Tavares in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale.

"Stylebender" outclassed Tavares for five rounds to win on points. Although unable to get the finish, Adesanya showed the world that he has a deep MMA skillset along with elite level striking and can also go five rounds easily.

Adesanya's major test came in the form of the perennial top-10 Middleweight contender Derek Brunson at UFC 230.

Adesanya talked the talk as he unleashed a verbal and social media assault on Brunson and finally walked the walk as he finished Brunson in just the first round.

Adesanya looked absolutely flawless in his performance and the veteran Brunson hardly even landed a punch and fell to the barrage of clinical strikes unleashed by Adesanya. Adesanya earned his spot at the No. 6 ranked Middleweight in the UFC.

With his flawless wins over Brunson and Tavares and his outspoken and brash attitude, Israel Adesanya has quickly become one of the biggest stars of the UFC.

Stylebender is a huge fan favourite and has an aura of invincibility around him at the moment. Israel already has his next opponent decided as he is scheduled to face one of the greatest martial artists who ever lived, Anderson Silva on the co-main event of UFC 234.

Many have compared Israel to a young Anderson Silva and the world waits to watch what will happen when the Stylebender meets the Spider in the Octagon.

A Middleweight title fight is set to headline UFC 234 as Champion Robert Whittaker faces Kelvin Gastelum for the belt. Israel Adesanya is on the verge of earning a title shot and a win over Silva will possibly get him one. 2018 was surely Stylebender's year and by the looks of it, 2019 can be even bigger and better for him.