Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Israel Adesanya just stopped Robert Whittaker in the second round of the UFC 243 main event.
UFC 243 is in the books, and the promotion crowned a new undisputed middleweight champion when Israel Adesanya TKO’d Robert Whittaker in the second round. Adesanya let Whittaker lead the dance across the first round before dropping him just before the buzzer. Come round two, Adesanya pressured and launched a counter left hand that sent Whittaker falling to the floor, and then followed up with academic ground strikes to secure the win. Still undefeated at 18-0, Adesanya is currently the best middleweight on the planet, and on the mic welcomed a future matchup with Paulo Costa.
Whittaker came out aggressive, looking to close the distance with his jab and following with his right hand. An accidental eye poke to Israel caused the slightest of pauses to the action. Adesanya did a lot of waiting and reading, allowing Whittaker to lead the dance. Then at the end of the round, Adesanya dropped Whittaker with a huge right hand, but Whittaker bounced right back up and went to his corner.
Whittaker got right back to work to start the second act, leaping in and throwing heat. Adesanya started to pressure back, throwing and landing at a higher clip. Just when Whittaker looked to pressure back, Adesanya caught him with a clean left hand. Whittaker went falling to the canvas, and Adesanya followed up with the fight ending ground and pound.
Israel Adesanya def. Robert Whittaker by TKO at 3:33 of round 2 : Middleweight title