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'Boring', 'flexible', 'defensive'? Find out the similarities between Adesanya and Mayweather.
Nigerian-New Zealander professional mixed martial artist (MMA) Israel Mobolaji Adesanya has been compared to boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
Adesanya takes on bitter rival Brazilian Alex Pereira at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 281 this weekend.
The UFC Mi9ddleweight champion suffered criticism following his last victory against Jarod Cannonier.
Adesanya is under pressure for winning his last four fights via unanimous decision. Known to build up the fight with the promise of a knockout, Adesanya has failed to finish off his opponents which has resulted in criticism of his style.
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Adesanya shares rare skill with Mayweather
Ahead of the fight against Pereira, UFC legend Chael Sonnen made a deep analysis of Adesanya's strengths.
Sonnen revealed that Adesanya has similar characteristics to Mayweather in their style of approach.
Adesanya has been labeled as a cautious fighter often refusing to engage in exchanges with his opponent.
Sonnen revealed in his latest post that Adesanya's defensive tactics are a gift he shares with Mayweather which is why it is difficult to defeat him.
On his YouTube channel, Sonnen said, "It's very rare for a male to have the flexibility in his back. Male gymnasts and female gymnasts do not, they do not compete on all of the same apparatuses. One has to do with flexibility. That's very common for females and very uncommon for males.
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"Adesanya has it. So he can do what's called the pull. He doesn't need to bob and weave only. He can also pull back. Anderson Silva had that, Roy Jones has that, [Floyd] Mayweather has that.
"It's very rare. Adesanya also has a rhythm where he will dance part way through a match, it is just an indescribable rhythm and skillset that he has and young fighters can't replicate it because it is unique."
Mayweather retired with a 50-0 professional record regarded as arguably the greatest fighter in the modern era but was heavily criticized for his style of boxing.
Adesanya now faces the same challenge of being called a boring fighter in the octagon which he aims to change against Pereira at UFC 281 scheduled for Madison Square Garden, New York on Sunday, November 13, 2022.
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