Israel Adesanya ’s rise to the top of the UFC’s middleweight division has been nothing short of spectacular, and it’s even more impressive when you consider he’s done it in less than two years on the roster. Impressive enough in his first 12 months in the big show to earn MMA Junkie’s 2018 “Newcomer of the Year,” Adesanya (18-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) followed up with a calendar’s worth of excellence that sees him now take home 2019’s “Male Fighter of the Year.” The Nigerian-born New Zealander opened his 2019 campaign by defeating a legend in Anderson Silva , a moment “The Last Stylebender” admitted was especially mind-blowing for him as an admitted fan of “The Spider.” While Silva is certainly on the tail end of his legendary career, the pairing of flashy styles made for an entertaining affair. Adesanya treated fans to a moment of bravado that will likely last as an iconic image of his career, placing his left arm behind his back and channeling Japanese anime character Rock Lee while becoming the first man to out-theatricalize Silva
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