Israel Adesanya may very well be the most intriguing up-and-coming talent in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight division.
“The Last Stylebender” continued his ascent in emphatic fashion on Saturday night, as he handily dispatched Derek Brunson via first-round technical knockout in a featured middleweight bout at UFC 230. Adesanya floored his foe on three separate occasions in the opening frame, but it was a perfectly timed knee that set the stage for his onslaught of offense at Madison Square Garden.
“It was an easy night at the office,” Adesanya said. “I told my team that I don’t get to come to New York enough, and I wanted to be able to spend my time here enjoying the city so finishing the job early means I’ve got more time to relax.