Will Israel Adesanya Make It 2-0 Against Marvin Vettori in UFC 263?
One of the most exciting and entertaining fighters in all of UFC, Israel Adesanya is getting ready to come back into action for a UFC 263 rematch that has been three long years in the making. Adesanya, a crowd favorite, will go to battle against Marvin Vettori who he beat already once in a very close split decision back in April of 2018. With UFC odds experts already lining up the best numbers for what promises to be one of the most exciting UFC events of the year, let’s break down who will walk out of Arizona as the UFC Middleweight Champion, Adesanya or Vettori?
Will Adesanya Bounce Back Against Vettori After Losing Against Blachowicz?
Last time UFC fanatics got to see Israel Adesanya in the octagon was in a losing effort for the light heavyweight title against Jacob Blachowicz in the main event of UFC 259 back in early March. Adesanya had the chance to become the fifth simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history if he would’ve beaten Blachowicz, but after a rather dull and not up to par performance from Adesanya, Blachowicz used his wrestling expertise to take down Adesanya, getting the title and handing Adesanya his first career loss. Many experts have already struck the argument that Israel’s undefeated aura and invincible charisma has started to dim down in great ways.
It’s easy to understand why Adesanya is coming into this title fight against Vettori with a dire need for not just a win but a convincing win to bring him back to the highest esteem rankings in the UFC. But what does Israel need to do to be able to beat Vettori for a second time? For starters he needs to rely on his takedown defense techniques more than ever. Adesanya is a fighter that’s known for his athletic abilities, he’s not called “The Last Stylebender” for nothing but he needs his defense techniques to shine through here.
On the offensive side of his fighting style, there are only a handful of fighters in the UFC who can claim to be better strikers than Adesanya. The man knows how to throw a punch, knows how to land a punch and knows how to do it repeatedly. And when it comes to his feet game, the vast array of kicks that Adesanya brings to the octagon only make him that much more dangerous. Adesanya will always find that small gap, he will always have that one extra step to lure fighters into his range and then go for that killer right that can knock anyone out. If the fight is not taken to the floor Adesanya should not have many issues trying to go for the commanding knock out against Vettori.
Vettori’s Endurance Can Be the Key Against Adesanya’s Explosiveness
Can we first talk about how Vettori is coming into this fight carrying one of the best if not the best win streak in all of the middleweight division with five straight wins. While many experts are seeing this fight as Adesanya’s perfect chance to get back into the relevance train of UFC, the worst thing anybody can do is count out Vettori just like that. If having to pick against a fighter riding the highest wave of confidence and another one in dire need to be back at the top of his game, then there’s absolutely no fault in riding with “The Italian Dream” Vettori.
What could help put Vettori over Adesanya on his way to the middleweight title? Two things, his resilience and his ground game, both things that could end up hurting Adesanya greatly. On the one hand Vettori has never been knocked out in a fight, something that Adesanya will surely be looking to do from the get go. This man gives off all the right Rocky Balboa vibes with his determination and iron chin, even while not being the most gifted striker in the division. Simply put, if Adesanya cannot truly connect some magic combinations to knock Vettori out cold then there will be no stopping the Italian.
Now if you want to talk attack, Vettori might just hold the key to beat Adesanya in a jiffy, his ground game. In their only fight back in 2018, Vettori took the third round of the fight with his ground game which made Adesanya look like an amateur. If you look at Adesanya’s loss against Blachowicz, what was the key? The polish fighter’s ability to out wrestle Israel. If Vettori scores an early take down in this fight, it will be a long and rough night for Adesanya. Adesanya hates fighting on the ground, some might even argue he fears it, Vettori loves it, so go figure what Vettori will be out to do.
Who’s Leaving as the Middleweight Champ?
Vettori has been asking for this rematch ever since their first fight and one could argue that he has earned it by lighting the middleweight division on fire with his performances. Adesanya has the champion’s pedigree having fought some of the best in the division and beating them. While Vettori could definitely use his ground work to his advantage and come out with a surprising and much deserved win it only takes one really good Adesanya strike to take down anyone.
This fight has all the makings to be epic and if both fighters don’t shy away from the actual combat and go for it all from the get go we could be in for one of the best fights of the year. Adesanya is favorite to take it, but just one thing. If Vettori wins the title, get ready to see him keep that title for a long time moving forward because it will be hard to beat him.
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