Being a former kickboxing champ, Israel Adesanya is known in the UFC for his world class striking.
But it is virtually impossible to win a UFC title without being well-versed in all aspects of the game.
Although we have seen little of Adesanya’s ground game thus far — ‘The Last Stylebender’ gave us a brief – but impressive – showcase of his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 — the newly-crowned UFC middleweight champion assured Ariel Helwani that he is very dangerous in all positions on the ground.
“You haven’t even seen my ground game yet, just bits and pieces. You haven’t seen my top game. Khabib isn’t the only who can maul people,” Adesanya said with a laugh (h/t MMA Mania’s Adam Guillen Jr.)
Adesanya, 30, last fought at UFC 243, where he outclassed and knocked out Robert Whittaker to capture the official middleweight and cement his position as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. The Nigerian-New Zealander’s first title defense is rumored to be against Yoel ‘Soldier of God’ Romero, with both men expected to return to the Octagon sometime next year.
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