Israel Adesanya competed in the main event of UFC 234, defeating former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva by unanimous decision.
UFC President Dana White was impressed with what he saw at UFC 234, saying Adesanya has ?it.?
?The kid?s got ?it.?? White said at the UFC 234 post-fight press conference (via MMA Fighting). ?He?s got that ? not only is he talented in the Octagon, he?s talented outside of it too. His interviews are exciting, he?s an interesting guy. He?s fun to watch. And I think he?s got a really bright future here.?
Adesanya is now 5-0-0 under the UFC banner and has a professional MMA record of 16-0-0.
White says that there was a lot of pressure on Adesanya on fight night and the bout was a fun one overall.
?It was fun,? White said. ?That first round was like a kung fu movie. It was a fun fight to watch, very fun. Two guys who are incredibly talented. I was saying yesterday, any oddsmakers that make Anderson Silva 7-to-1 is out of their mind. The guy?s always taking care of himself, he?s a great martial artist, and that was a fun fight. But Israel went in with a sold-out house tonight, a lot of pressure on him to go in against the guy ? you know, Anderson?s [43] years old, he?s supposed to go in and beat Anderson, but those are the kind of positions you?re in that you?ve got a lot of pressure on you. Anderson even said, ?All the pressure?s on him. There?s none on me.??
A victorious Adesanya proclaimed himself to be the #1 contender to the UFC Middleweight Title a short time after UFC 234.