The middleweight champion wanted to be the fifth fighter to hold two titles at the same time, but was defeated by the 38-year-old Pole in a battle for the semi-heavyweight title.
Belchovich.
Late flowering
Photo:
From Twitter
Israel Adsania's meteoric rise to the UFC skies got stuck in the night barrier (Saturday and Sunday) - and not just any, but a major Polish obstacle.
Jan Belchovich unanimously defeated (49-46, 49-45, 49-45) Adsania, who had been unbeaten until tonight - on his way to retaining the semi-heavyweight title in the UFC 259 main event.
Adsania, the middleweight UFC champion, tried to become the fifth fighter in UFC history to hold two titles at the same time, but as mentioned the attempt was unsuccessful.
Jan Blachowicz UPSETS Israel Adesanya and hands him his first career loss # UFC259
(via @ufc) pic.twitter.com/YOPdKWnc7n
- Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 7, 2021
Jan Blachowicz beats Israel Adesanya to remain the light heavyweight champ # UFC259 pic.twitter.com/JlJ2lSt55f
- ESPN (@espn) March 7, 2021
For Belchovich (8:28) it was the fifth victory in a row.
The 38-year-old Pole holds the title of semi-heavyweight since defeating Dominic Rice in September 2020 at UFC 253. Overall, he has won 9 of his last 10 fights and experienced a kind of late-career blossoming.
"Dare to be great." @ Stylebender staying positive even in defeat # UFC259 pic.twitter.com/HFJ1CYtDeR
- ESPN (@espn) March 7, 2021
Adsania (1:20) a former kickboxing champion, won his first nine fights in the UFC until tonight's fight.
The 31-year-old Nigerian of Nigerian descent has recorded 15 knockout victories out of the 20 he has in his career, and has served as a middleweight champion since October 2019.
In just overthree years since joining the UFC, IsraelAdesanya:
Capturedthemiddleweight title
Put together a nine-fight win streak
Challenged for light heavyweight gold
History eluded him at # UFC259, but the future is still bright for the middleweight king pic.twitter.com/ll8m2rMbbR
- ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 7, 2021
AND STILL @JanBlachowicz # UFC259 @espnmma pic.twitter.com/AxhoqJqNKf
- SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 7, 2021
HERE'S TO THE UNDERDOGS # UFC259 pic.twitter.com/5pvtTOpVXx
- UFC (@ufc) March 7, 2021
"The size did play a factor but my technique could've been better!"
Israel Adesanya talks to Joe Rogan following his first defeat in MMA. # UFC259 pic.twitter.com/nTTIEjhq0v
- UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) March 7, 2021
Imagine going 1-4 at the beginning of your UFC career, come back, win the championship, and beat a generational talent in Israel Adesanya.
Stuff of legend man.
# UFC259 pic.twitter.com/7BQg5IO2WS
- Team Usman And Holloway (@josesintomma) March 7, 2021