UFC 259 : Adesanya claims he was doing lines the night before loss to Jan Blachowicz!
However, in entirety the Nigerian-born New Zealander took the loss like a champion.
Israel Adesanya thought he would ease past Jan Blachowicz and become a two-division champion. But the light-heavyweight champion had other plans, giving the ‘Last Stylebender’ a harsh welcome to the light-heavyweight division. Adesanya was thoroughly outclassed on the ground, as a clinical and measured performance from the Super Pole, handed Adesanya his first defeat.
Adesanya however, took the loss like a champion. However, at the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, he revealed that he was ‘doing lines’ to stay up (snorting cocaine). But he was quick to blame himself for the loss, saying that his technique should have been finer. He assured that he would be back soon – going to the middleweight division once again and shake it up as usual.
‘Dare to be great‘
Adesanya was quoted as saying, “No, not exactly, cos I thought would win. I couldn’t sleep last night, so, instead of doing wines, I was doing lines just so I can stay up…Yeah didn’t go exactly the way I wanted to go but you know, dare to be great. The critics and the ones on the sidelines, I’m the one putting it on the line.”
Rogan asked Adesanya if he would ever regret the decision to move to the light-heavyweight division and fight. An assured Adesanya replied, “Never! That was just my legs being fatigued. I don’t know what from but I have to watch the tape. I knew what to do and I was trying to do it. The size did play a factor, but my technique could have been a lot finer. He made me look like I had a bodyguard. It’s like a bad day in the gym, but except it’s in the office tonight.”
He concluded saying, “I definitely will be back. Yeah, like I said dare to be great! I’m going back down to 185 and I’m gonna roll that b*tch with my iron black fist. Back to the drawing board and run that b*tch like I always do“.
Adesanya has vowed to bounce back strongly. What do you make of his loss? Does it prove that moving up a decision and fighting, especially the ones above middleweight, a tough ask, however good a fighter might be? Who should Adesanya fight next?