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Israel Adesanya: The historic UFC bout that almost wasn't.


Rising star Israel Adesanya forced the hand of UFC boss Dana White for the chance to face veteran Anderson Silva and is now on the brink of title contention.

It's a middleweight match-up for the ages.

The master of unconventional striking Brazilian Anderson Silva versus the prodigy in Nigerian-born Kiwi Israel Adesanya.


It's a fight the 29-year-old never thought he would have in his lifetime, the chance to face the man he has long regarded his hero and who sparked his MMA dream.

The similarities between the two middleweights are uncanny. Long limbs that strike at lightning speed, the movement of both head and body to avoid hits while counter striking or transitioning with ease, a tank of fitness that can't seem to be emptied - not to mention the bravado to boot.

It's these common attributes that make this fight so intriguing, but use it as the co-main event at UFC 234 in Melbourne to the middleweight title fight between Kiwi Robert Whittaker and American Kelvin Gastelum? Now we're talking.

"Look at his resume he's the longest reigning champ in the UFC, he's one of the best fighters in the world across all combat sports and that's what attracted to me to fight with the guy I consider the greatest ever," said Adesanya.

"At first it was like oh s**t this is crazy! But now I'm over it. I have been influenced by him heavily, so I feel like I'm the guy that will bring out the best Anderson.

"And if you don't want to fight at the top of the game what are you doing here you should retire, I can help him with that."

The 43-year-old who has been inactive for two years has been lured to fight with a guaranteed title shot should he win. While questions remain as to whether the veteran ranked fifteenth is deserving of that chance, the way he has single-handedly shaped the middleweight division answers them.

Silva's era began in the year 2000 when Adesanya was 11 years old. Silva became middleweight champion in 2006 and up until recently was the longest reigning champion of all time defending his belt 10 times while remaining undefeated after six years.

It's a legacy undefeated Adesanya (15-0) could only dream of which is why the heavy favourite took matters into his own hands to be part of the new piece of imminent history.

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