Adesanya defends UFC middleweight title

After a surprisingly quiet display in his last fight, Israel Adesanya is back doing what he does best – putting on a show.

The Nigerian-Kiwi sensation defended his middleweight crown in emphatic fashion at UFC 253 with a second-round TKO of bitter Brazilian rival Paulo Costa in Abu Dhabi.

After repeatedly attacking Costa's lead leg for the majority of the fight, Adesanya dropped him with a left hook to the temple before raining down hammer fists to finish the fight 3:59 into the second round.

'The Last Stylebender' was criticised for a lack of action in his previous victory over Yoel Romero in March.

But in just the second men's title fight in UFC history to feature two undefeated fighters, he delivered the perfect response, confirming his status as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the promotion.

[Source: Stuff.co.nz]