There was a time not that long ago when fight fans looked forward to an Israel Adesanya fight, and the feeling was something akin to the lead-up to the matchups of another legendary UFC middleweight champion: Anderson Silva. There was the anticipation of seeing something spectacular take place inside the Octagon.
Over time, however, it seems that suspense has been replaced for many by a sense of foreboding.
Today it seems far more regular to see fans describe Adesanya as ‘boring’ and ‘safe’ rather than ‘electric’ and ‘dynamic.’ However, I’d argue that those who believe watching the Israel Adesanya of 2022 is a more tedious endeavor than thrilling one are missing the point.