Kickboxing legend Tyrone Spong was near becoming a member of the UFC up to now, however he selected to make a reputation for himself in boxing as a substitute. With an ideal resume in fight sports activities, the veteran striker names Israel Adesanya essentially the most profitable kickboxer to ever enter the octagon.
Whereas discussing Alex Pereira’s impression within the sport in turning into a two-division champion within the UFC after doing the identical in GLORY kickboxing, Spong initially stated it might be truthful to call “Poatan” and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic essentially the most profitable kickboxers within the promotion all-time, however then modified his thoughts.
“In MMA, it might be [Pereira], Mirko ‘Cro Cop’. Undoubtedly within the UFC, for positive,” Spong informed MMA Preventing. “Oh no, no. Israel Adesanya.”
Adesanya retired from kickboxing after dropping to Pereira in March 2017 to completely concentrate on blended martial arts, becoming a member of the UFC a yr later to kick off a run of 5 straight victories, capped off by a choice over Anderson Silva, to then declare the interim middleweight belt in opposition to Kelvin Gastelum.
“The Final Stylebender” unified titles in opposition to Robert Whittaker and later defended it 5 instances earlier than dropping to Pereira in November 2022, a struggle he was dominating earlier than struggling a knockout within the fifth spherical. Adesanya lastly acquired his revenge in opposition to Pereira 5 months later, knocking him out in brutal vogue in Miami.
“Israel Adesanya [was the most successful],” Spong stated, “He was in all probability the blueprint and likewise inspiration whether or not I believe — I don’t know, however I believe when you ask Alex that query, that Israel was an inspiration for him, as a result of they’ve a historical past. And it in all probability gave him the arrogance. Like, ‘If that man can do it, I ought to be capable of do it as properly’. I must go along with Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira.”
Adesanya has but to guide his subsequent struggle within the promotion after dropping three in a row to Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov, the final two by stoppage. In the meantime, Pereira will rematch Magomed Ankalaev, the person that took his UFC mild heavyweight belt again in March, for gold in the principle occasion of UFC 320 on Oct. 4.
“I believe it’s going to be a tough struggle,” Spong stated of a rematch between Ankalaev and Pereira. “Troublesome struggle. Possibly not onerous, however tough for him as a result of types make fights. Everyone has a distinct segment, one thing that simply doesn’t gel properly along with your model. And if he can change sure issues he is perhaps victorious.
“However I by no means guess, I by no means predict fights. They’re each not guys that I prepare with as a result of if I prepare with any individual, I’m all the time going to again him. I want them each one of the best, and should one of the best man win, however I can’t predict the longer term. Let’s see. That’s what makes preventing attention-grabbing, proper? It’s essentially the most sincere artwork and sport on the planet as a result of two guys go in there after which they struggle onerous and sincere, and one of the best man on the night wins.”
Whatever the end result of a rematch with Ankalaev, Spong feels that Pereira needs to be pleased with the historical past he’s inbuilt fight sports activities after a lifetime of out-of-the-cage struggles and adversities.
“I believe he did an outstanding job,” Spong stated. “Not for nothing, he’s a giant star now, has quite a lot of success in his fights, achieved a lot in a brief house of time. And greater than something, his story is sweet, too, the stuff he overcame. I believe he needs to be pleased with himself. He in all probability by no means thought in his in his head that this was doable, and he went out and did it. I respect that loads.
“And you already know, from a aggressive aspect, after all, I’m being labeled among the best kickboxers from the previous twenty years — not one decade, the previous twenty years, that’s how lengthy I’ve been round. I do know that me as a fighter I can beat sure individuals, however I’m pleased with him and I want him all one of the best and success. I believe he did nice for him, his sons, to be an instance. And for different folks that have sure issues in life like habit and whatnot, I believe he needs to be pleased with what he achieved.”
