UFC star Israel Adesanya ready to ‘do work’ at Madison Square Garden

Arguably New Zealand’s most globally well-known athlete is set to add another chapter to his already lengthy list of achievements.

Photo: Photosport

UFC middleweight world champion Israel Adesanya will defend his title yet again when he faces Alex Pereira in New York on Sunday (NZ time).

The fight was not just a chance to avenge two losses to an old kickboxing rival but to take centre stage at the world’s most famous arena.

From Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, to Rocky Marciano and Conor McGregor. Some of fighting’s biggest names had headlined an event at Madison Square Garden.

Adesanya fought and won there four years ago but he said this time was different.

And not only because he was adding his name to that exclusive list of legends to feature at the top of the bill at the combat sports Mecca.

“Last time I said it was a walk in ‘The Garden’. This time I’m not walking alone. I brought an army with me.

“We’ve got Dan Hooker, Brad Riddell, Carlos Ulberg and all of CKB. It’s different this time.”

Having three team-mates from world-renowned Auckland gym City Kickboxing also fighting on the card was certainly a boost for Adesanya.

A boost that would come in handy, given the challenge in front of him.

Of the very few losses on his record, two of them came during his kickboxing days against Pereira.

Adesanya wasn’t shying away from the fact the two losses made this title defence personal but also insisted his quest for revenge was not being fuelled by emotion.

“It was never following me around.

“I let this go a long time ago but the universe blesses you with an opportunity to rewrite history the way you want to rewrite it, so I will.

“Every fight is always the fight I have to win. This one just has that little extra butter on it.”

Something not just created by the fact he had lost twice to his Brazilian rival.

After losing the first fight in 2016 via a points decision he and many others still disputed, Adesanya suffered a devastating knockout in the second fight almost a year later.

While the two defeats had grabbed plenty of attention ahead of UFC 281, he said there was a lot more to the fights than simple red marks on his record.

“I was doing work … the shots I was hitting him with, he was just able to eat them because I was a skinny boy.

“But I can find those same angles on him.

“My game is a lot different, and my striking has always been better suited for MMA, I’ve said that from the jump. I’m just really good at striking that I [also] dominated in kickboxing.”

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Domination was also a way to describe the mood of the large City Kickboxing contingent in New York for the event.

A wider team of around 40 fighters, coaches and training partners had travelled stateside.

Unofficial team captain Hooker said part of the reason for that was the unique chance the four fighters in action had in front of them.

“We have an opportunity here to make this our country’s greatest moment in combat sports history.

“That is something that needs to be taken seriously.”

And, despite the ever-present confidence, seriously was exactly how Adesanya was treating what was being billed as the toughest test of his MMA career.

Against a man in Pereira, whose two wins in their two previous fights had seen him fast-tracked to a shot at the New Zealander’s UFC title.

“He’s not like the other guys I have fought recently…

“He’s not going to shy away. He’s going to come here and try and fight, which is what I like … because I love to fight.

“I like these moments when I’m forced to rise to the occasion. I know who I am. I know my spirit. I know my code. I know my ancestry.

“He’s a tough guy but I’m alright [too]. We’ll see.”

UFC 281 stared at midday New Zealand time, with Ulberg, Riddell and Hooker all on the undercard ahead of the main event between Adesanya and Pereira later on Sunday afternoon.