Israel Adesanya’s Key to Success

[Odysseus]

;TLDR: Everyone wants to kickbox the kickboxer. Where are the high level wrestlers that come to take you down and smother you?

Israel Adesanya has been on a phenomenal streak, and definitely deserves the credit he’s been given. However, a huge contributing factor for his success in the Octagon is the fact that most of his opponents have been engaging in kickboxing matches with him. Izzy’s success illustrates the Striking skill gap between a high level UFC fighter, and world-class kickboxer.

Adesanya has done an excellent job of adapting his kickboxing for mma skills by implementing a fairly high level defensive wrestling skill set. However, it seems that this era of MMA fighters favor striking-heavy game plans and the wrestling-heavy game plans similar to GSP, Usman and Khabib are few and far-between. The issue is that when you are facing a world-class specialist in his prime at their own game, you’re almost always guaranteed to fall short.

The best chance an opponent has against Israel Adesanya is an All-American calibre wrestler with enough striking to survive any blitzes and close the distance so that they can implement their superior wrestling and grind out a grappling-based gameplan. Are there any potential match-ups like this right now in the MW division? Anderson Silva in his prime proved he could survive and even occasionally finish elite level grapplers on the ground. An opponent with these traits would give us insight into just how well-rounded Izzy is a Mixed Martial Artist at this point in time.

 

[Regal Boy]

There is no taking him down at this point. He's too long, his TDD is too good and his counter-punch is too dangerous.

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

Good points. So basically Sonnen-Anderson 1, minus the mental fart in the fifth round?

 

[Joonyer]

The key is speed. When the wrestler blitzes, he isn't there.

Like a goddamn wizard. Or a ninja.

A winja.

 

[SeattleFightFan]

Cannonier next.

Vettori should get a run back. Apparently no one will agree to fight him.

But 90% of sherdoggers are going to answer your question

"Are there any potential match-ups like this right now in the MW division?"​

with the name of a newcomer with 3 UFC first round finishes in his first 3 months of being a UFC fighter. So don't be frustrated when it happens.

 

[Post 2 Decision]

Here

We

Go!

 

[El Panteron]

Good points. So basically Sonnen-Anderson 1, minus the mental fart in the fifth round?

To be fair Chael had the testosterone level of a bull's nutsack for that fight.

 

[BabyBlue_Bomber]

Gastelum took him down but couldn’t keep him there. Vettori is the only fighter to really control Adesanya on the mat...

Adesanya was able to defend Vettori’s takedowns for the first two rounds, but spent almost the entire third round on his back...

Still, that fight was years ago and Adesanya was relatively safe while Vettori was on top of him. His grappling is probably already much better than it was in that fight.

 

[Gamer007]

I think Izzy will lose to a striker.

If you don't think Izzy will lose to a striker, than your saying he's gonna reign for years to come with just striking? Only 2 guys have ever pulled that off, if the Cannonier fight ever comes to fruition, he has to think standing at kickboxing range is a big no-no, so every new opponent Israel fights will piece together the recipe for success. I'd be surprised if he's still champion after 2-3 more defenses.

There's no way Izzy is anywhere close to Silva's skill level on the ground, that's just not possible. Silva has been on the bottom of some of the greatest wrestlers of his generation, guys like Henderson, DC, and Sonnen. He nullified them all and either finished them or made their ground game look human. However, I do believe Izzy is better there than people think, and his long limbs assist him and make him a lil tough to deal with.

 

[chinarice]

;TLDR: Everyone wants to kickbox the kickboxer. Where are the high level wrestlers that come to take you down and smother you?

Israel Adesanya has been on a phenomenal streak, and definitely deserves the credit he’s been given. However, a huge contributing factor for his success in the Octagon is the fact that most of his opponents have been engaging in kickboxing matches with him. Izzy’s success illustrates the Striking skill gap between a high level UFC fighter, and world-class kickboxer.

Adesanya has done an excellent job of adapting his kickboxing for mma skills by implementing a fairly high level defensive wrestling skill set. However, it seems that this era of MMA fighters favor striking-heavy game plans and the wrestling-heavy game plans similar to GSP, Usman and Khabib are few and far-between. The issue is that when you are facing a world-class specialist in his prime at their own game, you’re almost always guaranteed to fall short.

The best chance an opponent has against Israel Adesanya is an All-American calibre wrestler with enough striking to survive any blitzes and close the distance so that they can implement their superior wrestling and grind out a grappling-based gameplan. Are there any potential match-ups like this right now in the MW division? Anderson Silva in his prime proved he could survive and even occasionally finish elite level grapplers on the ground. An opponent with these traits would give us insight into just how well-rounded Izzy is a Mixed Martial Artist at this point in time.

He doesn't get taken down and held down like Anderson Silva was. He's better in that facet of MMA than Silva ever was.

 

[RustyShacleford]

Yoel is the best wrestler in the division and he didn't bother with a takedown. Probably cause he knew it would gas him for later rounds. Maybe Hermanson has the tools and stamina to get it done with grappling, but I doubt it. Killa Gorilla is most likely current top guy to beat him, but only cause he has touch of death level power.

 

[Gamer007]

He's better in that facet of MMA than Silva ever was.

DC
Hendo
Maia
Leites
Okami
Sonnen
Lutter
Newton
etc.

Silva fought some of the best grapplers in the division's history, and MMA history overall. Stop trolling, Izzy is a blue belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu, this is ludicrous.

 

[Fossor]

He doesn't get taken down and held down like Anderson Silva was. He's better in that facet of MMA than Silva ever was.

Oh yeah, all those wrestlers Izzy fought, couldn't take him down.

 

[trimmin]

To be fair Chael had the testosterone level of a bull's nutsack for that fight.

Well it wasn’t like Silva was innocent either

 

[El Panteron]

Well it wasn’t like Silva was innocent either

Did he pop for the fight?
You should run and tell the UFC, they still have it as a Silva W.

 

[chinarice]

DC
Hendo
Maia
Leites
Okami
Sonnen
Lutter
Newton
etc.

Silva fought some of the best grapplers in the division's history, and MMA history overall. Stop trolling, Izzy is a blue belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu, this is ludicrous.

.... where did I mention BJJ?

Wrong nothing.. He has better takedown defense than Silva does. His style of fighting makes him harder to takedown than Silva. Deal with it.

 

[tramendous]

There is no taking him down at this point. He's too long, his TDD is too good and his counter-punch is too dangerous.

I dont know. I feel like the type of wrestler described by OP can clinch, put him against the cage and work a takedown.

 

[Gamer007]

.... where did I mention BJJ?

Wrong nothing.. He has better takedown defense than Silva does. His style of fighting makes him harder to takedown than Silva. Deal with it.

According to what lol, name the high level grapplers who have attempted takedowns on him?

and I specifically said "grapplers" in my post.

 

[Wreckless]

The key is a wrestler with excellent timing, speed and high takedown %.

 

[chinarice]

According to what lol, name the high level grapplers who have attempted takedowns on him?

and I specifically said "grapplers" in my post.

Dude, you listed some guys with complete trash takedowns..... Big deal that Silva stopped takedowns from Demian Maia and Thales Leites and Travis Lutter.... These guys are shit wrestlers

A good portion of the guys you listed took Silva down. DC took down Silva every time he tried... what a fucking shit example.. lol

People don't takedown Adesanya because he's harder to get in on than Silva was.