Israel Adesanya Beats Robert Whittaker To Become UFC Middleweight Champion

Israel Adesanya has moved up the cadre in Mixed Martial Art as he retained his unbeaten run in the bout against Robert Whittaker to be crown the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.

The two-time title defender, Whittaker, was outclassed in a round-two knockout by the New Zealander (18-0), who had left him with a bloodied nose before he went down to win the belt in Marvel Stadium, Melbourne on Sunday.

Whittaker did not come as a walkover for the Nigeria-born fighter and had put up a resurgent move with left jabs and hooks. Adesanya maintained composure and kept the right distance to avoid being stunned, and soon got it him with a right-hand hook to the face that sent the Aussie wobbling as he fell to the floor.

Israel Adesanya knockdown Rober Whittaker in the second round to win UFC middleweight championship belt 

"I just showed you guys I can take it and give it as well," Adesanya said in a post-fight interview. "Because I've got no knockout power and I've got pillow hands. Boo-oo."

Adesanya had knockdown Whittaker in the first round with right-hand hooks twice to the Aussie's face on the buzzer. On their return, Whittaker's nose had been bloodied and he had to fight through with the injury.

Telling how he was able to end the 28-year-old reign, Adesanya blamed him for being too vulnerable and not doing the rightful defensive moves which made him even more "susceptible" to lose the fight.

"What makes him great makes him really vulnerable and susceptible to a lot of things. It looked like he hit me. But what I was doing was bending my knee - not 'Triple C'," he recalled. "I knew he was going to start fast, and I just had to take my time."

Apparently, that was the Nigerian-native's first victory knockout in six fights. He won the interim UFC middleweight champion against Kelvin Gastelum with a unanimous vote in April.