Isreal Adesanya, the undefeated middleweight Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) titleholder just defeated Yoel Romero, Saturday night, to hold on to his title.
The middleweight UFC champion from Nigeria beat Cuban’s Romero after a five-round match, the judges unanimously awarded to him 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46.
Isreal Adesanya first won the interim title at UFC 236 when he defeated Kelvin Gastelum in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on 13 April 2019. The boxer then became the substantiative UFC middleweight titleholder when he defeated Robert Whittaker 0n 6 October 2019 in UFC 243 that took place at the Octagon Melbourne, Australia.
With the defeat of Yoel Romero at UFC 248 on Saturday 7 March 2020, Adesanya has now been the middleweight UFC champion for 154 days consecutive days.
The match, which held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was heavily booed by spectators for what they perceived as lack of action. However, Romero did land an incredible knock on the champion from Nigeria.
The match also saw Israel Adesanya target Yoel Romero’s leg in Rounds 3 and 4. And Romero appeared to get the best of the striking in the final round with a series of hard left hands late.
Yoel Romero lands a big left on Israel Adesanya…#UFC248 pic.twitter.com/lUGnZKmRtI
— SMH (@BigSE5) March 8, 2020
“It was a hard fight but I did what I had to do,” says Israel in his post-match interview. “Look at his leg. I f__ed his leg up. I took his best shot in the first round and that was the best shot he landed on me. I did what I had to do and I f__ed his leg up.”
“I f—ed his leg up … I did what I had to do to win that fight.”
Israel Adesanya laid out the strategy that helped him win at #UFC248. pic.twitter.com/cI2IZfIRmw
— ESPN (@espn) March 8, 2020
But Romero does not seem to agree with the assessment contending that viewers wanted to see a good fight, which Adesanya did not deliver.
“I wanted him to stand and trade with me but he was scared to fight,” Romero says. “The people came here for a real fight and not for this. The people spent their money to see a real fight. That’s why I come here because I know the people pay and walk around and pay pay-per-view for what? Nothing.”
“The people want to see the good fight, not like this. … You want to see running, go see Usain Bolt.”
Yoel Romero after losing to Israel Adesanya at #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/N8jMMU5lfF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 8, 2020
Isreal says he was not worried about the outcome of the UFC 248 match while they waited for the judges to announce the winner.
“As long as the judges didn’t listen to the crowd, I was fine,” says Adesanya. “I touched him up. And still.”
In the end, the Nigerian boxer carried the end after the judges unanimously concluded that he was the better fighter.
Still the champ. ?
?? @Stylebender stays sharp to get the job done! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/6r8k73zcVf
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
Meanwhile, Nigerians have taken to Twitter express their reaction. See a sample of what they say below:
Still the champ. ?
?? @Stylebender stays sharp to get the job done! #UFC248 pic.twitter.com/6r8k73zcVf
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2020
E sweet, e no sweet. Win na win! Israel Adesanya still the King! ???#UFC248 pic.twitter.com/7c4qAeQt0T
— Joy Ojeabulu (@Euphoria_Sticks) March 8, 2020
Nigerians in the diaspora are doing very well, especially across all sport, likes of Odion Ighalo in Man Utd, Anthony Joshua in boxing, Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya in mixed martial arts.
Like if you love sport
Retweet if you are Nigerian#UFC248#AdesanyaRomero pic.twitter.com/IrbhzdhqQV— Toberry (@Toberry15) March 8, 2020
I honestly care less if the fight was boring or not. Israel Adesanya did what he has to do against the beast Romero…
He’s the undisputed, undefeated and definitely the best. Big ups The Last Stylebender #UFC248 ?? pic.twitter.com/93Vvae0qMF
— Toolz???? (@Calculatedtoolz) March 8, 2020
I honestly care less if the fight was boring or not. Israel Adesanya did what he has to do against the beast Romero…
He’s the undisputed, undefeated and definitely the best. Big ups The Last Stylebender #UFC248 ?? pic.twitter.com/93Vvae0qMF
— Toolz???? (@Calculatedtoolz) March 8, 2020
And this gem from a Nigerian admirer!
Israel Adesanya: Some of the best in #UFC248 are Nigerians. There is something about Nigeria that Nigerians themselves haven’t discovered. pic.twitter.com/tEsKWXdmPs
— AyeMojubar ? (@ayemojubar) March 8, 2020
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