Israel Adesanya’s emergence as a legitimate contender in the UFC’s middleweight division has become one of the hottest stories of 2018.
From kicking in the door with a second-round TKO over Rob Wilkinson to steamrolling over Marvin Vettori and Brad Tavares, the man dubbed “The Last Stylebender” was already rocketing up the 185-pound rankings at a meteoric rate. But following his skull-rattling first round TKO over Derek Brunson at UFC 230, Adesanya cemented himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.
Even more shocking, his ascension from prospect to contender all happened in less than one calendar year.