Despite planning to claim an award at next month’s ESPYs, current UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya missed out on the ‘Best UFC Fighter’ category nomination according to a press release, amid his stunning title win at UFC 287 in April.
Adesanya, current champion and two-time undisputed middleweight champion, headlined UFC 287 earlier this year in Miami, Florida, after losing a previous knockout to Alex Pereira in November last year, stopping the Brazilian champion with a stunning one-punch second round. KO – divisional gold struck again.
Not booked for his return to the Octagon after his win in ‘The Sunshine State’, Adesanya is slated to headline an event before this year’s end, where he takes down the winner to officially evict the title between former champion, Robert Whitaker, and challenger, Dricos du Plessis next month. At UFC 290 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Israel Adesanya misses out on the “Best UFC Fighter” nomination at this year’s ESPYs
Set to be in attendance at T-Mobile Arena next month, however, Israel Adesanya missed out on a nomination for the ‘Best UFC Fighter’ category at the International Fight Week event – with the foursome of Leon Edwards, Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev and the recently retired Amanda Nunes all out. They receive nominations according to ESPN reporter, Mark Raimondi.
Adesanya, who was previously making highlight plans to appear as an ESPY nominee this summer, also called Comeback of the Year, Knockout of the Year, and ‘Fighter of the Year’ awards in a text message exchange.
Proud of a 24-2 professional record, Israel Adesanya’s only losses in the sport came in his aforementioned permanent TKO loss to Pereira back in November last year, which followed an unsuccessful light heavyweight siege against former champion, Jan Blachowicz again in 2021 at the facility UFC Apex – dropping a unanimous loss decision to Pole on that occasion.