'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#5 Israel Adesanya vs Robert Whittaker (UFC Middleweight Title Unification Fight)
New Zealand vs. Australia! Champion vs. Champion. The Reaper vs. The Last Stylebender! The biggest fight in Australia and New Zealand's combat sports history! Here...we...go!
Trending
Round 1: Whittaker attempted the oblique leg kick. He pressed forward and as Daniel Cormier noted, was looking to make the fight a little dirty and it was a good leg kick from Whittaker.
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Adesanya was cautious as usual and waited for an opening. Whittaker tried to find his way in with a three-piece. Adesanya landed a jab and produced a front body kick before Adesanya and Whittaker exchanged jabs.
Whittaker was more busy with his striking while Adesanya was more efficient. Whittaker was throwing every strike with a lot of heat. Adesanya, so far, was defending well. His head movement was particularly impressive.
Adesanya went kick for the head kick. Whittaker got his hand up. Whittaker went for a wild right and a looping head kick. Adesanya moved around well. Whittaker kept throwing in the hard kicks. Adesanya knocked Whittaker down with a big right before the bell.
Whittaker got saved by the bell there!
Round 2: Whittaker aggressively lunged forward. He landed a stiff jab and a right hand but Adesanya responded with a low kick. Whittaker chased Adesanya but failed to connect with the big shots. Adesanya was evading most of the strikes and kept landing the right hook counter.
Adesanya landed a head kick. He pushed forward and connected with a body punch combo. until a big left hook from Whittaker caught him off guard. Whittaker went high for the kick but Adesanya easily got out of the way. He did so again on two occasions.
Whittaker made his way into the pocket again and landed a left blow. Adesanya ate the shot and countered with a massive double hook. The left, in particular, stunned Whittaker. The champion wobbled backwards and dropped down to the mat.
Adesanya got in and applied the finishing touches.
Result: Israel Adesanya def. Robert Whittaker via TKO (Round 2, 3:33)
Israel freakin' Adesanya! Take a bow! The Last Stylebender is your undisputed Middleweight Champion! That was a coming-off-the-age from a truly elite fighter.
We're so stoked for Paulo Costa and Israel Adesanya now! Bring it on!
