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  • UFC star, Adesanya to be honoured by kinsmen in Osun

    UFC star, Adesanya to be honoured by kinsmen in Osun

    Nigerian-born mixed martial artist Israel Adesanya, has visited his country home, Osun, with the UFC star set to be honoured by the people of Esa-Oke, in the State.

    Chief Akin Onifade, the Sajuku of Esa-Oke told NAN on Friday that Adesanya would be honoured at the Esa-Oke Day celebration later this year.

    The celebrated Nigerian-New Zealand UFC middleweight combatant arrived Lagos on Wednesday, few days after losing the UFC 305 crown to South African Dricus Du Plessis.

    After five consecutive UFC wins, Adesanya won the interim middle weight title against Kelvin Castelum in April, 2019 and unified the champion with a talent victory against Robert Whittaker in October that year.

    Onifade said that Adesanya was given a carnival-like welcome at the palace of the Owa- Omiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Alayeluwa Adeyemi Adediran on Thursday.

    “The Esa-Oke born UFC star was ushered into the palace by traditional drummers in company of an enthusiastic crowd of highly elated youths and family members and other eminent Nigerians.

    “The elated Owa-Omiran was full of praises to God for the feats achieved by the young artist, and prayed extensively for his glory to continue to shine brighter and brighter to the glory of God.

    “The revered Owa-Omiran announced that the Ananye ruling house born Israel will be honoured during the Esa-Oke Day celebration later this year,” he said.

    According to him, Adesanya expressed gratitude to the traditional ruler and the entire community for the warm reception and the honour accorded him.

    “Adesanya in his response said he was delighted to be back to his roots and promised to always make Nigeria proud,”he said.

    Present at the reception include: the Asalu of EsaOke, High chief James Ajewole and the Odogun of Esa-Oke, High Chief Olatunde Esan, Looyin of Esa-Oke, Chief Wale Aregbesola, Sajuku of Esa-Oke, Chief Akinwumi Onifade.

    “Others include the Obalogbo of Esa-Oke, Chief Olabode Ajayi , Osolu of Esa-Oke, Chief Ajiboye, Aro of Erinjinyan, Esa-Oke, Chief Akanni Omole and the Loja of Kajola- Esa-Oke, Oba Akande Adebiyi.

  • Dricus Du Plessis defeats Adesanya to retain UFC title

    Dricus Du Plessis defeats Adesanya to retain UFC title

    In a tense battle at UFC 305, South African fighter, Dricus Du Plessis retained his middleweight title, defeating Nigerian-born Israel Adesanya by submission in the fourth round.

    The grudge match, fueled by pre-fight tensions over race and identity, culminated dramatically as Du Plessis secured the victory with a rear-naked choke.

    Adesanya, a former two-time champion, entered the fight determined to reclaim the belt he lost to Sean Strickland last September.

    Despite trailing 2-1 on the scorecards heading into the fourth round, Du Plessis turned the tide with powerful hooks and jabs, followed by a decisive takedown.

    Once he locked Adesanya into the choke, the Nigerian-born fighter had no choice but to submit.

    The fight began with both fighters showing aggression, with Adesanya landing sharp counters and cutting Du Plessis on the forehead early on. However, the South African’s pressure and wrestling skills proved too much for Adesanya as the fight progressed.

    The intense bout was marked by a tense atmosphere, stemming from Du Plessis’ claim of being the first “real” African UFC champion, a statement that did not sit well with Adesanya.

    Adesanya cut Du Plessis early in the first round, but Du Plessis took control in the second with effective wrestling, dragging Adesanya down twice. The third round saw intense exchanges on the feet as both men battled for dominance, setting up a dramatic finish.

    The submission win solidifies the South African’s position at the top of the middleweight division and leaves Adesanya pondering his next move after a bitter loss.

  • UFC: Khamzat Chimaev inflicts third straight defeat on Usman

    UFC: Khamzat Chimaev inflicts third straight defeat on Usman

    Unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday night inflicted third straight defeat on Nigeria born former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in a middleweight bout at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

    Chimaev won his 13th bout in the division after a  decision win over the Nigerian at UFC 294.

    Chimaev wasted little time in getting right to work in the fight as he went after a single-leg in the opening moments of the fight. While Usman initially defended it well, Chimaev stayed persistent and got the Nigerian Nightmare to the floor.

    From there, he controlled the duration of the round, spending most of the period on Usman’s back and threatening with submissions.

    The story of this epic showdown took a surprising twist as Usman stepped into the Octagon on short notice after Chimaev’s original opponent, Paulo Costa, was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury.

    Despite the limited preparation, Usman displayed sheer determination and showcased his warrior spirit against one of the sport’s elite fighters.

    The judges’ scorecards were the topic of much debate.

    The fight took on a much slower pace in the second round. Chimaev did not press the wrestling for most of the round, opting to strike in a slow kickboxing bout. He did land a takedown with 30 seconds left in the round, but didn’t do much with it.

    Usman ultimately worked his way back to the feet in the final 30 seconds where both men put the finishing touches on their case to win the feet.

    Usman is now on a three-fight losing streak with two losses to Leon Edwards, but he had five consecutive title defenses at welterweight leading to that point.

     

  • UFC: Strikland stuns Israel Adesanya to snatch UFC middleweight

    UFC: Strikland stuns Israel Adesanya to snatch UFC middleweight

    Underdog Sean Strickland pulled off a stunning upset to defeat Israel Adesanya and claim the UFC middleweight title at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday.

    Strickland won by unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards after an enthralling five-round battle.

    American Strickland taunted Adesanya in the closing seconds of the final frame, confident of victory after 25 minutes of stalking his opponent.

    He defended brilliantly and used his boxing to force Adesanya to fight off the back foot.

    Adesanya, who has ruled the roost as middleweight champ for most of the last four years, failed to find a way to break Strickland down.

    The 34-year-old Nigerian was caught several times by stiff jabs from Strickland that slowed him down.

    “Oh my God, literally never in a million years did I thought I’d be here,” Strickland said in an interview in the cage.

    This was after UFC president Dana White wrapped the championship belt around his waist.

    After giving him a hostile reception on his way to the octagon and cheering for Adesanya, who grew up in neighbouring New Zealand, throughout, the crowd hailed the new champion for his gutsy performance.

    “The majority of my friends he’s beaten pretty easily, so I was even kind of doubting myself, but I’ve gotta say to the fans, you guys motivated me,” Strickland said.

    Strickland set the course for victory with a thunderous right hand at the end of the first round.

    He almost secured a knockout, and though Adesanya managed to make it to the break, he never really got going again after that.

    Known for his creative striking, the Nigerian-born Adesanya became increasingly desperate as the fight wore on.

    He won only one of the five rounds, with the three judges awarding the rest to Strickland on identical 49-46 scorecards.

  • UFC: I’m battle ready for Sean Strickland – Israel Adesanya

    UFC: I’m battle ready for Sean Strickland – Israel Adesanya

    UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has explained that he’s ready to face Sean Strickland at the Qudos Bank Arena after he finished his incredibly intense final training session ahead of the fight in Sydney, Australia on Saturday.

    On paper, this is a truly compelling fight and looks like a tough test for ‘The Last Stylebender’, despite the best US betting apps heavily favoring Israel Adesanya. This is a truly sensational match-up between two of the best mixed martial artists at 185-pounds!

    Can Israel Adesanya ad yet another UFC title fight victory to his resumé?

    Will Sean Strickland pull off one of the biggest upsets in recent UFC history and become champion? We’ll find out on Saturday…

    Their clash will serve as the headlining matchup of the UFC 293 pay-per-view with the event set to be broadcast live.

    The Nigeria-born fighter said that he’s prepared to perform at UFC 293.

    “I go to that place where I just push. That was definitely – not a struggle but a little battle on my head. Just gotta push. I’m f**king busy. Let’s go. So, yeah. We’re on. I’m f**king ready, bro,” the 34-year-old said.

    In a recent interview with MMA journalist Aaron Bronsteter, Adesanya said that Strickland reminded him of the “idiots” he grew up with.

    Adesanya has often spoken about clashing against bullies in his younger years. On that note, he alluded to Strickland’s history of making controversial socio-political statements and offending others with his behavior.

    On the significance of a win, particularly a knockout victory over Strickland, Adesanya said, “Yes, this (a win against Strickland) is going to be one of them (more gratifying).

    “I don’t like idiots, or bullies. He knows I’m going to f**k him up, but he’s still just trying to pretend he’s this big dog. And I’m like, ‘Alright, bet.’ He doesn’t have to respect me, or come in and bow down, nothing like that. But some of the things he’s saying, and he’s also questioning my character, like, bit*h you don’t know me.”

  • UFC fight: Drake wins $1.84 million in bet on Israel Adesanya

    UFC fight: Drake wins $1.84 million in bet on Israel Adesanya

    Rapper Aubrey Drake Graham, popularly known only as Drake has won $2.7 million after Israel Adesanya knocked out Alex Pereira at UFC 287.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Israel Adesanya knocked out Alex Pereira at UFC 287 to reclaim the middleweight title on Sunday.

    Meanwhile, Drake placed a $400,000 bet on Adesanya to win by knockout and won $2.7 million after the fight, which Adesanya ended up winning by knockout.

    The award-winning rapper placed two huge bets on Adesanya to beat Pereira at UFC .

    Drake placed a $500,000 bet on Adesanya to win, which returned $885,000 and a $400,000 bet for him to win by knockout, which returned a massive $1.8 million.

    When asked about Drake’s bet after his fight, Adesanya said: “Shoutout to everyone that bet on me but you have to realise that when I step into the octagon I put my life on the line. That’s the biggest parlay you can ever do.

    “I’m a betting man too so shoutout to stake, we are about to make another deal and get more money.”

    TNG reports Drake had previously lost $1.6 million after backing Adesanya in previous fights.

  • UFC: How Adesanya knocked out Pereira in just 2 rounds [VIDEO]

    UFC: How Adesanya knocked out Pereira in just 2 rounds [VIDEO]

    Israel Adesanya pulled off a stunning knockout win over Alex Pereira to reclaim the middleweight crown at UFC 287 at the Kaseya Centre on Saturday.

    He downed the Brazilian in the second round to avenge his only UFC defeat at middleweight.

    Before the knockout, all three judges called the first round in favour of Adesanya.

    After a cagey opening frame that saw Pereira target Adesanya’s lead leg with brutal kicks, the fight burst into life in the second, with both men landing head kicks early.

    But Adesanya’s crisp boxing soon began to tell.

    With the second round winding down, Adesanya was backed up against the cage.

    But he suddenly uncorked a huge right hand and followed it up with another to knock Pereira out cold and take back the belt he lost to the Brazilian in November.

    Adesanya followed Pereira down to the mat but referee Dan Mirgliotta waved the fight off, returning the Nigerian-born New Zealander to the top of the middleweight pile.

    This is a weight class he has dominated for the last four years.

    “I played possum a bit … look at me, I am here, he is here, that last one (punch) had everything. That last hammer fist was from the gods,” Adesanya said in a post-fight interview in the cage.

    The 33-year-old told the fans in attendance that he hoped they would have the chance to feel the same joy that he was feeling in that moment.

    “If you stay down, you will never ever get that resolve. Fortify your mind and feel this level of happiness as you rise,” said Adesanya, who had never beaten Pereira in MMA or kickboxing in three previous meetings.

    In the co-main event, local favourite Jorge Masvidal announced his retirement in the cage after losing a unanimous decision to Brazil’s Gilbert Burns.

    This will be Adesanya’s 8th UFC title fight win, the 2nd most win in middleweight history.

  • [BREAKING] UFC: Israel Adesanya knocks out Pereira

    [BREAKING] UFC: Israel Adesanya knocks out Pereira

    Israel Adesanya reclaimed his middleweight title after beating long-term rival Alex Pereira at UFC 287.

    It took Israel just two rounds to end Pereira’s dominance and reclaim the middleweight title he lost last November.

    Bookmakers had favoured Adesanya to win, but you many not be too far from the truth if you say even he didn’t see his victory coming that quick.

    Details to follow…

  • UFC: Leon Edwards beats Kamaru Usman again, retains belt

    UFC: Leon Edwards beats Kamaru Usman again, retains belt

    British Leon Edwards once again showed class against Nigerian -born Kamaru Usman in a thrilling five rounds to defend his welterweight title at UFC 286 in London.

    Recall that both fighters were in the ring last August with Kamaru almost coasting home but a last minute kick from Edwards swun the victory to the Briton.

    Having won the belt with a stunning final-round head kick last August, Edwards needed the judges at UFC 286 in London, but ran out a deserved winner after five rounds. Two judges scored the fight in Edwards’ favour by two rounds (48-46), while the third scored the bout a draw (47-47).

    The challenger knew full well he was in hostile territory when he was serenaded by the chant: ‘Head shot, dead’, and Edwards rode the wave of his support in a performance of total concentration.

    Usman continued to work his way into the fight with another takedown early in the third round. And he was given a shot in the arm when Edwards was deducted a point for holding the cage to potentially swing the fight in his favour.

    Edwards continued to show impressive takedown defence in round four, while he chipped away at his challenger’s legs. It was all to play for in the final five minutes as Edwards finally threw a head kick in the opening seconds only for Usman to block. The Brit then switched to Usman’s body as he looked to finish the stronger.

    He stuffed most of Usman’s takedown attempts and landed the more punishing shots in the fight, ending as the fresher man.

    He was rewarded for punishing Usman with a barrage of leg kicks, slowing the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’, who marched forward with his usual suffocating style but that march became more of a hobble the longer he was sliced up.

    The British fighter came out on top after the five-round war, with the three judges scoring it 48-46, 48-46 and 47-47 in his favour.

    Edwards suffered a points deduction during the third round, after holding onto the cage, but still managed to come out on top in the huge clash.

  • UFC: Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards to test might in triology battle

    UFC: Kamaru Usman, Leon Edwards to test might in triology battle

    Welterweight champions, Leon Edwards will defend his title against Kamaru Usman at UFC 286 in the 02 Arena on the 18th of March 2023.

    Edwards defeated Usman for the belt at UFC 278 last August after delivering a fifth-round head kick for a knockout, setting up their upcoming trilogy fight.

    The English fighter first faced Usman in 2015 but lost via unanimous decision.

    The UFC 286 co-main event will feature Justin Gaethje fighting Rafael Fiziev in a lightweight fight.

    This fight will be a homecoming for the 31-year-old Edwards, who moved to England at the age of nine and fights out of Birmingham. For his professional career, he sports a 20-3 record with one no-contest. He has seven knockouts and three submission victories. Edwards is unbeaten in 11 straight fights dating back to that loss to Usman eight years ago.

    The Jamaica native was down on the cards going into the fifth and final round with Usman in August before knocking him out with under one minute left.

    Usman had won 19 straight fights before falling to Edwards. A win in that August bout would have tied him with Anderson Silva (16) for the UFC record winning streak. The Nigerian-born fighter, who lives in Florida and trains out of Colorado, had five successful welterweight title defenses, tying him for second-most ever in the UFC 170-pound division with Matt Hughes. For his career, he is 20-2 with nine knockouts and one submission.

    The 35-year-old came into the UFC by winning The Ultimate Fighter 21 in 2015.

    ESPN has Usman ranked No. 3 and Edwards ranked No. 7 on its pound-for-pound MMA list.