UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defended his title against Yoel Romero in the main event at last weekend’s UFC 248.
Many fans were left disappointed by the fight due to the lack of action. Booing from the crowd could be heard throughout the 25 minute contest, but UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya didn’t let that affect him.
He made a recent appearance on The Luke Thomas Show, talking about his headlining fight at UFC 248 and explaining why booing from the crowd didn’t affect him or his performance against Yoel Romero. See what the champion had to say below:
“I’m cool with you guys because you guys give me a fair shake. You have to ask hard questions, you have to be objective, but I appreciate that you give me a fair shake. You know me, if this was my fault I’d be the first one to own up to it. I’d be so embarrassed. I’d be the one saying ‘f**k, I let my team down, I let people down.’“ Adesanya said.
He explained why he didn’t let the emotions from the crowd dictate the way he fights, citing respect for his coaches as a reason:
“Like for me, I didn’t take the stupid risk that the crowd wanted me to take. You know why? Because behind me were four other men and behind them were a whole gang of other people who put everything into me. If I just deviated from the game plan and decided to oblige for what the crowd wanted or what the fans wanted, then I’m letting those four men down. All their hard work they’ve put into me over the last three months I’m letting all that s**t go to waste. For what? Because some grongos in the crowd? No. They told me beforehand they need 25 minutes of focus, complete and absolute focus to beat this guy. It’s not just about me. If it was a street fight, maybe I could get dumb enough to do that but nah, I’ve got Andre, Eugene, Twist, and Mike, and a gang of other people that put everything into me for me to be able to just like throw it all away and throw all their hard work away.”
The champion also addressed his “dancing partner” Yoel Romero, suggesting that he didn’t do enough to turn up the heat in the fight and will have to live with that for the rest of his life:
“You know if it was my fault, I’d be the first one to own up and tell you that was a s**t fight. I’m objective in that way. I know that wasn’t on me that was on [Yoel Romero] and it’s his last chance he’s ever going to try and get gold, and he knows in his mind, he never went after it because he has no gas tank, he has no faith in himself. So he’s going to be the one to have to sleep at night with that thought and live with that for the rest of his life.” Adesanya concluded.
UFC president Dana White seems to share Adesanya’s criticism of Yoel Romero, saying that he was “disappointed” in the Cuban fighter. Yoel Romero addressed the situation, suggesting that it was Adesanya, who didn’t want to engage him and declared himself the “people’s champion”.
This article first appeared on CLOSEDGUARDMEDIA.com on 11th March, 2020.
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