It’s only been 14 months since Israel Adesanya arrived in the UFC, and five bouts later, he will be in the Octagon at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, fighting Kelvin Gastelum for the interim UFC middleweight title.
Too much, too soon? Not for Adesanya.
“Maybe just about six months faster,” he deadpans, but he means it. And getting to this point this fast isn’t a surprise to “The Last Stylebender,” who has been gunning for a UFC belt before he was even a mixed martial arts fighter.
“This was the main goal the whole time to be the UFC champion and here I am now,” said the 29-year-old, who compiled a stellar 75-4 kickboxing record before his Octagon debut.