NIGERIA’S Israel Adesanya has defeated his American opponent Jared Cannonier to defend his middleweight championship title for the sixth time at the UFC 276 event which held at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, early Sunday morning.
The UFC Champion effortlessly dominated the fight from start to finish as Cannonier failed to put up a strong attack, leaving the spectators less than impressed as they booed him.
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Adesanya’s victory also breaks the big-money gambling losing streak of Canadian rapper and actor Aubrey Drake Graham, who had reportedly bet $1 million that Adesanya would carry the day.
Drake had lost over $700, 000 earlier this year when he bet $275,000 on Jorge Masvidal against Colby Covington and another $427, 000 on Justin Gaethje against Charles Oliveira.
Ahead of the game, the UFC champion had described the event as “the biggest fight card of the year”, expressing optimism for another show off victory.
“This is the biggest fight card of the year. We have to show out. That’s what it is. We have to show out, and you know when it’s time to show up, I show off.” Adesanya said
Hours to the fight which recorded close to 20,000 spectators, World Heavyweight and World Welterweight champions, Cameroonian Francis Nganu and Nigerian, Usman Kamaru, arrived the city to give Adesanya their support.
Adesanya first won the title against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 in 2019, and since then has recorded wins over Robert Whittaker (twice in February and May 2022), Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori.