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Israel Adesanya Has Only Been Knocked Out Once In His Career

Israel Adesanya Has Only Been Knocked Out Once In His Career

The UFC middleweight champion faces Yoel Romero on Saturday and the Soldier of God might have to do something special.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

If Yoel Romero is to become the UFC middleweight champion on Saturday night then he may have to do something only one person has ever done before, knock Israel Adesanya out.

Adesanya has never tasted defeat in UFC or MMA but in his previous career as a kickboxer he lost on five occasions, and was even knocked out once.

As a kickboxer Adesanya has tasted defeat and on his last appearance he was knocked out by Alex Pereira, when fighting on Glory of Heroes 7, in 2017.

The New Zealander became the undisputed UFC middleweight champion when, as interim champion, he beat champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 243, with a second round stoppage.

It took the 'Last Stylebender's' MMA record to 18-0, which includes a perfect 7-0 record since he debut in UFC at UFC 221 in February last year.

Next up for him is a fight against Romero. The 42-year-old old has lost three of his last four fights but remains a dangerous opponent for the champion.

The Soldier of God may have won the interim title against Luke Rockhold in February 2018 but he missed weight so despite winning he didn't get the title.

Romero can't be taken lightly. Image: PA Images
Romero can't be taken lightly. Image: PA Images

The Nigerian born fighter started his career as a kickboxer in September 2011 and won his first five fights, before suffering his first and second losses in back-to-back fights in 2014.

He then went on a tear winning his next 12 fights and won the King of the Ring 86 Cruiserweights Tournament twice and the heavyweights tournament once.

His winning run was ended by Brazilian Pereira at Glory of Heroes 1 in 2016 but he then won another six fights in a row, capturing the Glory Middleweight Championship.

The 30-year-old finished his kickboxing career before moving into MMA full time with a final two defeats. He lost to Jason Wilnis at Glory 37 before failing to get revenge of Pereira in his only KO loss.

11 of Romero's 13 wins in MMA have come by way of KO and he'll be hoping to become just the second man ever to stop Adesanya.

Can the Cuban do it or will the New Zealander continue his excellent run?

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: kickboxing, UFC News, MMA News, Last Stylebender, Yoel Romero, UFC 248, UFC, MMA, Dana White, Israel Adesanya