Israel Adesanya predicted he would take out Yoel Romero at UFC 248, but the middleweight champ was unable to do so, in what was a conservatively fought bout.
Romero came out with his hands at his head and he did pretty much nothing. The first minute went by with almost no strikes thrown. Two minutes went by and hardly any strikes were thrown. Boos started to ring out. Romero finally threw a leg kick. Adesanya fired a head kick that was blocked and Romero planted a hard counter. Adesanya started blinking his left eye. Romero came with a jumping kick to the body late in the frame.
Adesanya came out more aggressively in round two but Romero pounded back a huge left. Adesanya just missed with a head kick. Adesanya planed a couple of kicks to the body and leg. Romero blitzed in mid-round and tagged Adesanya with several shots. Adesanya fired in another leg kick but nearly ate a hard counter. Adesanya went high with a kick that was blocked. The champ scored with a left before the round ended.
Adesanya fired a head kick that Romero ducked under. The latter came with a rolling kick that missed. The fighters exchanged leg kicks and mid-round, Romero missed with a heavy left. Romero planted a kick to the body and Adesanya returned the favor not long after. Adesanya grazed Romero with a front kick to the face. Adesanya just missed with a head kick late in the frame.
Referee Dan Miragliotta warned the fighters in between rounds that they need to pick up the pace. Strange. Adesanya continued to fire kicks from the outside and moe away. Mid-round, Romero took an eye poke and the action was momentarily stopped. When the fight resumed, Romero took Adesanya down but the champ popped right back up. Adesanya stuck a jab and avoided a big left. The striking volume picked up late in the round. Adesanya planted another hard leg kick. Romero shot in and fired a big left in the ensuing scramble. By the end of the round, Romero’s right leg was battered and bruised by all the kicks it’s taken.
Close fight, but Adesanya is likely ahead. Romero just missed with a huge left moments in. Adesanya planted another leg kick. Romero scored with a left as he rushed in. Romero attempted a level change but Adesanya defended. Romero landed another left and Adesanya returned fire with another leg kick. Romero started taunting Adesanya for inactivity. More boos ring out. Romero blitzed late in the frame and yelled at Adesanya.
“The Last Stylebender” retains the belt via unanimous decision.
Here are the complete results for UFC 248, which took place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Israel Adesanya def. Yoel Romero via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
Zhang Weili def. Joanna Jedrzejczyk via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
Beneil Dariush def. Drakkar Klose via KO (punches) R2, 1:00
Neil Magny def. Li Jingliang via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Alex Oliveira def. Max Griffin via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Sean O’Malley def. Jose Quinonez via TKO (strikes) R1, 2 :02
Mark O. Madsen def. Austin Hubbard via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Rodolfo Vieira def. Saparbeg Safarov via submission (arm-triangle-choke) R1, 2:58
Gerald Meerschaert def. Deron Winn via submission (rear-naked-choke) R3, 2:13
Giga Chikadze def. Jamall Emmers via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Danaa Batgerel def. Guido Cannetti via knockout (punches) – R1, 3:01
Katy Perry says she is getting some new inspiration these days. She said in an interview…
The singer Taylor Swift is being blasted by the Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant, who…
The actor Lucas Black, who is best known for starring in "NCIS" and "NCIS: New…
Since being founded by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley back in 1973, KISS has been…
The legendary star Carol Burnett is set to turn 91 tomorrow, and we previously reported…
It's been two years since the former "Full House" star Bob Saget passed away suddenly…