UFC legend Chael Sonnen has suggested Israel Adesanya has "rare" flexibility in a similar way to boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
'The Last Stylebender' will make a defence of his UFC middleweight title this Saturday night against former two-time kickboxing rival Alex Pereira at Madison Square Garden. The UFC 281 event represents a huge opportunity for Adesanya to secure revenge after being beaten by the Brazilian in 2016 and 2017 during their kickboxing careers.
Adesanya has spoken confidently of getting a KO win over his opponent to end his three-fight streak without a stoppage. And former UFC contender Sonnen has suggested Adesanya is able to use a "pull" manoeuvre in his defensive skillset that could be a key factor in beating his next challenger.
"Adesanya can do something called the pull," Sonnen said on his YouTube channel when analysing Adesanya's skillset ahead of his UFC title defence. "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 the flexibility. That's very common for females and very uncommon for males.
"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 was known for his sensational defensive skills which saw him become arguably the greatest fighter in the modern era, retiring with a 50-0 professional record. Adesanya has been heavily criticised for his style by fans who have accused the champion of being "boring", and want to see him be more expansive.
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The recent criticism is understood to have upset the 33-year-old who feels it is unnecessary and even claimed he cried after failing to knock out Jarod Cannonier in his victory in July. Adesanya is currently undefeated at 185lb having made five successive title defences, and has suggested he plans to mirror Mayweather's ability to channel his thoughts towards the upcoming task rather than the past.
"I was watching Claressa Shields and Floyd Mayweather talk on FaceTime when he fought Pacquiao," Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. "He said got up from the seat for every round. He always just thought like, ‘Forget every other fight. If there’s ever a fight I have to win, it’s this one.'
“I feel that. That’s me right now. If there’s ever a fight, I have to win, it’s this one. That’s why everything is different this camp. There’s no excuses. If there’s ever a fight I have to win, it’s this one.”
