Israel Adesanya: A Dominant Kickboxing Showdown

If one were to name the greatest strikers in MMA history, Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya would needlessly be mentioned. As a top-level kickboxer who once reached the peak in kickboxing, he possesses very high-level striking skills. (It is known that he was a title contender in GLORY, the biggest kickboxing organization, and had a competitive fight against the Middleweight champion with a controversial decision that didn’t favor Adesanya.)

Adesanya’s striking style stands out for its precision and well-timed combinations. In the match against Brad Tavares at the TUF Stadium, he demonstrated exceptional composure, adapting seamlessly to the smaller TUF Octagon. While lacking the raw power of a single heavy blow, Adesanya’s strikes, characterized by accuracy and sharp timing, have proven effective in overwhelming opponents, leading to a surprisingly high KO win rate.

His striking approach is reminiscent of welterweight Stephen Thompson, another brilliant striker known for his unique kickboxing style. However, Adesanya’s striking is closer to Muay Thai than Thompson’s karate-influenced style. Adesanya’s anomalousness is lower than Thompson’s, yet his attacking power and accuracy surpass his counterpart.

Adesanya excels in utilizing his reach to gain a distance advantage, employing various striking techniques such as punch and kick combinations. Proficient in elbows and knees as well, his reflexes and counterattacks showcase an Anderson Silva-like finesse, reminiscent of the MMA legend in his prime. Furthermore, his feinting and set-up game is nearly unmatched in the entirety of UFC’s history; his constant usage of feints and different setups (mainly with jabs and leg kicks) continue to fascinate MMA fans all around the world.

However, Adesanya faces challenges in wrestling defense and lower position movements. While improvements in takedown defense are evident, offensive wrestling and clinch fighting from opponents can force him against the cage. The light heavyweight title match against Jan Blachowicz exposed vulnerabilities, especially against opponents with superior physical strength. Adesanya’s grappling limitations were evident as he succumbed to takedowns and ground control in the later rounds.

Despite the setback in the light heavyweight division, Adesanya’s limitations should not be prematurely concluded. Jan Blachowicz presented a unique challenge with his grappling skills and size advantage. Adesanya’s decision to refocus on the middleweight division suggests a pragmatic approach to competition, as the challenges in the heavier weight class posed significant hurdles. The immense improvement in his cage wrestling does not make grappling much of a threat against him, at least in the MW division.

While Adesanya’s weaknesses in wrestling defense have been evident, his overall skill set and striking prowess remain formidable. Future matchups may exploit these weaknesses, and Adesanya’s ability to address them will determine his longevity at the top of the middleweight division.