Israel Adesanya looked across the octagon at his idol Anderson Silva and set to work on outworking the former middleweight champion en route to a unanimous decision victory in the main event at UFC 234 last night in Melbourne. But not everyone was impressed with the performance of the “Stylebender.”
Hovering over the event was the super late pullout of middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, taking challenger Kelvin Gastelum with him. In the post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White revealed that medical officials discovered Whittaker’s intestines and colon were “popping in and out,” prompting emergency surgery that White confirmed was successful. The rough estimated recovery time was 4-6 weeks.
Adesanya and Silva earned Fight of the Night, while Montana De La Rosa and Devonte Smith earned performances of the night. Each fighter earned a $50,000 USD bonus.
💰 B O N U S E S 💰
POTN: @MontanaMarie211 & @K_O_E_KINGKAGE
FOTN: @Stylebender vs @SpiderAnderson pic.twitter.com/dTPWeBJAkT
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
Kenai Andrews checks in with his thoughts on the main card.
TSN PRELIMS
WULIJI BUREN VS. JONATHAN MARTINEZ
No wiping the smile off his face!@JonathanMyda gets the UD to start the card! #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/oVQnt666wK
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
WINNER: JONATHAN MARTINEZ VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JONATHAN MARTINEZ VIA UD
Andrews:Â Martinez used that youth to outwork Buren. Good win.
CALLAN PORTER VS. JALIN TURNER
HUGE RIGHTS!
THAT'S IT! @JalinTurner #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/38K39X9Db7
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
WINNER: JALIN TURNER VIA KO (PUNCHES) R1 0:53
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JALIN TURNER VIA TKO
Andrews: Turner used that experience to crack Porter and leave no doubt.
LANDO VANNATA VS. MARCOS ROSAÂ
https://twitter.com/vaobhr/status/1094458161824653312
WINNER: LANDO VANNATA VIA SUBMISSION (ARMBAR)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: LANDO VANNATA VIA TKO
Andrews:Â Vannata put this one way and for once did not squander the opportunity. Good win.
TERUTO ISHIHARA VS. KYUNG HO KANGÂ
What a finish!
Mr. Perfect gets the sub on @ESPN! #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/CbGUMlglEZ
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
WINNER: KYUNG HO KANG VIA TECH SUBMISSION (REAR-NAKED CHOKE) R1 3:59
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KYUNG HO KANG VIA UD
Andrews:Â Wow! Dang went in there and took care of business. Impressive.
KAI KARA-FRANCE VS. RAULIAN PAIVAÂ
How'd you score it? #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/nLrbwZiwkQ
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
WINNER: KAI KARA-FRANCE VIA SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: KAI KARA-FRANCE VIA UD
Andrews:Â Close fight, but Kara-France got some home cooking.
SHANE YOUNG VS. AUSTIN ARNETT
WOW!
A MASSIVE knockdown to end the fight! #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/Uc8UvxJxN2
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
WINNER: SHANE YOUNG VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: SHANE YOUNG VIA TKO
Andrews:Â Young didn’t get the finish, but he did pile up the points.
DEVONTE SMITH VS. DONG HYUN MAÂ
The 1… 2…
And the finish!
Have yourself a night, @K_O_E_KingKage! #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/TmIqFlxtcD
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
WINNER: DEVONTE SMITH VIA TKO R1 3:53
ANDREWS PREDICTION: DEVONTE SMITH VIA TKO
Andrews:Â Smith kept the fight standing and put Ma away with the 1-2 and then right hook. Crisp and clean.
JIM CRUTE VS. SAM ALVEYÂ
Crute DROPS Alvey!
But misses the finish! #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/kyy2AVC3F1
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
WINNER: JIM CRUTE VIA TKO (STRIKES) R1 2:49
ANDREWS PREDICTION: JIM CRUTE VIA TKO
Andrews:Â Crude is a brute, dropping Alvey with that right hook looking for the walk off. But he finished the job. Good win.
#14 MONTANA DE LA ROSA VS. NADIA KASEEMÂ
Dominant from wall-to-wall!@MontanaMarie211 gets the 2nd round sub. #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/h6MTSX5lJc
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
WINNER: MONTANA DE LA ROSA VIA VERBAL SUBMISSION (ARM BAR) R2 2:37
ANDREWS PREDICTION: MONTANA DE LA ROSA VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews: Wow! Kaseem literally gifted De La Rosa the ground and paid for it dearly.
#15 RANI YAHYA VS. RICKY SIMONÂ
Showing a little bit of everything!@RickySimonUFC #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/3VcwVoqtqI
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
WINNER: RICKY SIMON VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-25)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: RANI YAHYA VIA SUBMISSION
Andrews:Â Simon did a wonderful job of keeping Yahya from his ground game. Excellent win.
MAIN EVENT
#6 ISRAEL ADESANYA VS. #15 ANDERSON SILVA
Anything you can do, I can do. #UFC234 pic.twitter.com/GLBAPF4uG5
— UFC (@ufc) February 10, 2019
WINNER: ISRAEL ADESANYA VIA UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
ANDREWS PREDICTION: ISRAEL ADESANYA VIA TKO
Andrews: I said that nothing less will than a TKO of Silva will do for “Stylebender” and I stand by that. Adesanya won, but cannot claim No. 1 status. In fact, the old and slow Silva held his own, but still needs to retire. Now.
Andrews Prediction: Israel Adesanya via TKO
