Nigerian-Born UFC Star Adesanya Beats Tavares In Welterweight Fight

Nigerian-born New Zealand mixed martial arts star Israel Adesanya on Saturday defeated American fighter Brad Tavares in their Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight fight in Las Vegas.

Adesanya, 28, won the 185-pound contest at the end of Round 5 after the three judges confirmed his victory in his first headline fight in the UFC.

The fight headlined The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale and the judges ruled it in the favour of the Lagos-born fighter (50-45, 50-45 and 49-46).

It was Israel Adesanya’s first contest against a fighter ranked higher than him in UFC and the victory over Tavares (17-5) took his record to 14-0 in MMA and 3-0 in UFC.

Speaking after his win, Israel Adesanya was delighted he proved doubters wrong after earlier suggestions that the fight will come too soon for him.

In his words, he said: “All the pundits and experts said, ‘Is it too soon? He’s only had two fights in the UFC.'”

“Tavares is a tough dude. He’s got Ray Sefo, a New Zealand legend, in his corner. I’m only getting warmed up, I have yet to start. I hurt him twice and he adjusted very well at the beginning. But I was able to adjust as well. It was a good chess match.