Israel Adesanya’s Takedown Defense Is a Problem for Middleweights | Monday Morning Analyst #456


On this edition of the Monday Morning Analyst, Luke Thomas breaks down the improvement of Israel Adesanya’s takedown defense throughout his UFC career and why that’s a problem for the middleweights in the UFC.


50 Comments

  1. this was great. could be alittle shorter in format. but great video man.
    can't wait to see Israel in agianst the top 5.

  2. Luke, ya made a good video for you being a journalist! But Israel Adesanya will get taken down as many times as somebody like Chris Weidman, Romero, or Ben Askren wanted to take him down. I don't think he will have great success once he reaches the top 5 of the division. Let's be real, Derrick Brunson hasn't been GOOD in like 3-4 yrs now since when he went on a streak and won like 5 straight with a lot of KOs. Brunson hasn't evolved at all and is still the exact same fighter he was back then. This sport is constantly evolving and this is one thing Adesanya has on his side. He has the more modern/excellent striking techniques and if he can continue to evolve with his grappling, then maybe he can make a legitimate run at the title. But right now I don't see his grappling being on a level that a good MMA grappler/wrestler wouldn't expose and win rounds on points because Israel's back would stay pinned to the mat. Hopefully he will continue to get better though cause we need some new blood at the top of the division, however the top has some very good grapplers who would smash Adesanya I believe right now. Israel does seem to be a quick learner as far as picking up on the new techniques he has learned for MMA, so I hope he does continue to evolve as an excellent wrestler and learn to scramble excellent with his speed/quickness. The UFC matchmakers know he would get exposed by the top grapplers in the division so Dana, Sean Shelby, and Maynard will be sure to keep him away from Romero, Luke or Weidman. But Weidman's confidence has to be at an all time low so maybe that's a fight Israel could win right now. He needs a couple more fights before they match him up a grappler who is next level!

  3. Always liked the monday analysis segments, just find something a bit odd about the format. Keep expecting to see a sales forecast for the next quarter to appear on the screen!

  4. i'm happy to see israel growing. isn't easy but thats the beauty of it, not everybody can do this.

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