UFC middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya returned to his division and put on a clinic in defeating Italy’s Marvin Vettori in the main event of Saturday night’s (June 12) UFC 263.
Vettori (17-5-1) had a clear game plan which involved hunting down New Zealand’s Adesanya (21-1), throwing heavy hands, then looking for a clinch along the cage in order to take things to the mat. He found just enough success to keep his opponent honest and go the distance, but Adesanya is simply on another level.
Adesanya landed low kicks over and over, evaded most of Vettori’s shots and defended the bulk of the takedown attempts. He added in several head kicks which landed flush and his usual array of inventive strikes, and at times the bout seemed more a sparring session than a serious fight.
Coming off his first career loss in a challenge to light heavyweight champ Jan Blachowicz, the Nigerian born Adesanya who fights under the flag of New Zealand got the judges’ scorecards at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona were 50-45 across the board for a unanimous decision.
