7 Mar 2021

Israel Adesanya loses to Jan Blachowicz

7:44 pm on 7 March 2021

Middleweight world champion Israel Adesanya has suffered the first loss of his MMA career, missing out in his attempt to claim a second UFC belt at UFC 259 in Las Vegas.

Mar 7, 2020; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Israel Adesanya (red gloves) before the match against Yoel Romero (blue gloves) during UFC 248 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Photo: PhotoSport / Stephen R. Sylvanie

The Nigerian-born mixed martial arts star - and New Zealand's reigning sportsman of the year - moved up a weight division to challenge Poland's Jan Blachowicz for the light heavyweight title but lost in a unanimous decision.

Just four fighters in UFC history, including Irish superstar Conor McGregor, have held two belts simultaneously.

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