Ahead of the UFC 276 main event, UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya made quite a splash with an entrance inspired by WWE legend The Undertaker. The ensuing performance wasn’t nearly as entertaining as Adesanya methodically worked his way to a unanimous decision win over Jared Cannonier.
Adesanya’s game plan revolved around working shots, feints and kicks. It wasn’t pretty and left the crowd frustrated, but it was effective in removing a power forward in Cannonier.
Cannonier tried to make a mid-fight adjustment to work from the clinch against the cage. Unfortunately for the challenger, when he was able to clinch, he was often unable to mount much offense beyond landing knees to Adesanya’s thighs.
The fight lacked big action moments and instead showcased Adesanya’s technical skills and the ability of those skills to nullify Cannonier’s brute force approach. Often Cannonier was left reaching for counter punches after Adesanya had already landed a punch or two and moved well out of striking range.
Cannonier also occasionally tried to score a takedown instead of settling for a clinch against the cage, but Adesanya was able to stay on his feet throughout the contest, continuing to show an evolution in his grappling skills, or at least the ability to nullify his opponents. With only working from the clinch providing anything resembling success for Cannonier, this was the well he tried to return to often.
By the fourth round, the fans began to riot slightly, booing loudly during clinches initiated by Cannonier or when the two men stood apart without engaging in fireworks. By the fifth round, many fans began to filter out of the arena.
At the end of five rounds of action, it was clear that Adesanya deserved the decision, but the fans’ goodwill from the exit was gone as he was loudly booed after the scores were announced 49-46, 49-46 and 50-45, all in his benefit.
After the bout, Adesanya was asked what the next step in his career would be, having already blanked nearly every top contender at 185 pounds.
Adesanya called out Alex Pereira, the man who has two kickboxing wins over Adesanya, including a brutal knockout victory, and who knocked out Sean Strickland earlier on the main card.
“[Our previous fight] it was a mistake on my part,” Adesanya said, addressing Pereira. “Like I said in the press conference, I’ll let you skate next time. You’ll leave like Elsa in Frozen”
CBS Sports was with you all the way Saturday, bringing you all the results and highlights from UFC 276 below.
UFC 276 card and results
- Israel Adesanya (c) def. Jared Cannonier by decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45)
- Alexander Volkanovsky (c) def. Max Holloway by decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
- Alex Pereira defeated Shawn Strickland by TKO in the first round (punches)
- Brian Barberena defeated Robbie Lawler by TKO in the second round (punches)
- Sean O’Malley vs. Pedro Munhoz ends in a no contest due to eye poke
- Jalin Turner defeated Brad Riddell via first-round submission (guillotine choke)
- Jim Miller defeated Donald Cerrone by second round submission (guillotine choke)
- Ian Gary def Gabriel Green via decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Dricus Du Plessis def Brad Tavares by decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Andre Muniz def. Uriah Hall via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Maycee Barber def Jessica Eye via decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Julija Stoliarenko defeated Jessica Rose-Clark by first round submission (armbar)
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