Why Israel Adesanya suffered first defeat of his career | READ DETAILS
chuks oti
Mar 08, 2021
Israel Adesanya suffered the first loss of his MMA career at UFC 259 last night, reports www.lowkickmma.com.
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'The Last Stylebender' entered his light-heavyweight title bout with Jan Blachowicz on the back of 20 consecutive wins.
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He was a considerable favourite to dethrone the 205lb champion and pick up his second UFC belt.
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In the UFC 259 main event, things did not go Adesanya's way. After three close and cagey rounds Blachowicz began to take over.
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The Polish power-puncher used his bigger frame to wrestle the talented kickboxer in the final two rounds.
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Ultimately it was enough for Blachowicz to retain his belt and take Adesanya's 0.
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Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Adesanya, disappointed but not disheartened, said: "Losses are part of life. Losses are something I deal with occasionally.
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"Just this is my first one in MMA. As I say, it is what it is. If I was going to lose to anyone, what better guy to lose to than a guy like Jan?
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"(He's) a classy champion, a cool dude, a very nice guy - a guy who has a great story in himself.
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"On his way to getting cut from the company, comes back and then dominates and becomes the light heavyweight champion and then hands this guy, a future legend, his first loss. Yeah, if I was going to lose to anyone, I'm glad I lost to him.ÔÇØ
'Stylebender' understood the risk he was taking by stepping up to light-heavyweight and insists he has no regrets despite losing.
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"(I have) no regrets,ÔÇØ Adesanya said. "Like I said, I don't know. I feel like the boxing model has made it a bad thing to lose. Yeah, it sucks losing. Don't get me wrong. But it's not like the end of the world. Like I said, I've lost before in the past. ... Right now, me and my team, we're just excited to get home and work on certain little details.ÔÇØ
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Adesanya is of the opinion some minor changes to his UFC 259 gameplan would've seen him walk away the winner.
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He'll now return to New Zealand and focus on his comeback.
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"Honestly, I could've won this fight,ÔÇØ Adesanya said. "... Tonight he played a better game plan, and he was the better fighter tonight. That's it. He respected me, and I respected him, and we had a great showing of ourselves. I'm not heartbroken. I hate losing. Don't get me wrong. But I'm not like, 'Oh my god. F*ck, he really embarrassed me. Like, that was it.' Nah, I felt like I had a great showing for myself.
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"I represented my team very well. Now we go back to the drawing board. It's kind of fun. Like, I look forward to like, this is the dip in my story. (Do) you know what I mean? This is the valley, if you will. Then, I'll rise again like the phoenix that I am.ÔÇØ
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— chuks oti