Who beat Israel Adesanya and how did he manage it?

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Israel Adesanya has just one loss in his entire MMA career

It is not an easy task to beat Israel Adesanya. The reigning king of the middleweight division just saw off Marvin Vettori in the main event of UFC 263.

‘The Last Stylebender’ as he is known, became the UFC middleweight champion just a year after making his debut in the promotion. Since then he has defended his middleweight title thrice, with the most recent one coming against Vettori.

Israel Adesanya vs Jan Blachowicz will take place for the UFC Light Heavyweight title
Israel Adesanya waits during his decision win over Yoel Romero to retain the middleweight title at T-Mobile Arena on March 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

His opponents don’t seem to have a clue to his blessed striking and fight IQ. The slick and evasive Adesanya can wriggle through in micro-seconds.

He has an impressive 21 wins in his MMA career. Although he has never been finished, he has one loss to his name.

So, who was the fighter who managed to get past Adesanya and hand him his only loss?

Israel Adesanya’s only loss came at UFC 259

It was UFC 259. Adesanya had previously beaten Paulo Costa at UFC 253 in September 2020, and then decided to make a move to the light-heavyweight division in a bid to become a two-division champion.

Israel Adesanya lost to Jan Blachowicz
Israel Adesanya lost to Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 (Twitter)

He was set to take on the powerful Pole, Jan Blachowicz who had only recently become the light-heavyweight champion then. Blachowicz put on a clinic against Adesanya as he took him to ground, and mauled him in the final rounds of the fight.

Adesanya was clueless and ended up losing via. unanimous decision. The Polish Power was just too much that night for the Last Stylebender.

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