First thing's first – what's going on?

Kiwi UFC star Israel Adesanya puts his middleweight title on the line against perennial contender Yoel Romero in a five-round bout which will headline UFC 248 in Las Vegas on Sunday (NZ time).

This will be Adesanya's first official defence as undisputed champion, but his second bout since winning the interim title in April last year.

What can you tell us about Romero?
You know that character "The Thing" from the Fantastic Four; that one guy made or rock? That's the comic book version of Yoel Romero. Yes, he's 42 years old, but Romero is in incredible shape, is well sculpted and hits like a freight train when he connects.
While he's been around for longer, Romero actually has fewer professional MMA bouts to his name (17 to Adesanya's 18), and has claimed 11 of his 13 wins by knockout. He's only been stopped once in his career, which was in 2011 before his UFC debut. Since then, his only losses have come on the scorecards.

You can find a more in-depth look at the challenger here.

Is he the toughest test of Adesanya's career?
If you ask anyone involved in combat sports, the toughest test is always the next one. But Romero does bring provide an interesting stylistic match up for Adesanya. Romero's background is in wrestling, having made the transition to MMA after a decorated career which saw him win Olympic Games silver in 2000. But that's not to say he only wrestles; quite the opposite, in fact. While his wrestling will always be a threat, he backs himself in a striking exchange and likes to fight on the front foot, pressuring his opponent.

Adesanya will go into this fight as the favourite in most people's eyes, but it could take just one mistake for Romero to put his lights out. In saying that, Adesanya doesn't make many mistakes and is one of the smartest fighters in the UFC.

What other fights are happening?
UFC strawweight champion Weili Zheng welcomes a challenge from former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the co-main event. Being a championship bout, it will also be contested over five-rounds despite not headlining the card. The anticipation for this bout has been akin to that of the Adesanya v Romero fight, with fireworks expected between the two.

Jedrzejczyk has a long history in striking, with a background in muay thai and kickboxing helping her to excel in the octagon and pick opponents apart from range. She's won 16 of her 19 professional MMA bouts, with one of those losses being at flyweight – the division above. Zheng has just one career loss to her name to go with 20 wins – and boasts 10 KO/TKOs and seven submissions. Zheng's sole loss was the first fight of her career, and since then she has been on a tear. She claimed the title in an impressive performance against Jessica Andrade in China last year and will be making her first defence on Sunday.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12314641

ISRAEL adesanya
Not a konheded 'phonjamzlm!!!!!

Lzaa ooo

Iceberg3:
ISRAEL adesanya
Not a konheded 'phonjamzlm!!!!!

Lzaa ooo

This Israel fight is getting me panic . Am rooting for him. Yoel is good too.

cmoney22222:
This Israel fight is getting me panic . Am rooting for him. Yoel is good too.

That Israel is a mad man... Nobody wants to fight Romero but Israel specifically chose Romero for himself... He said he doesn't want to hear people saying Romero would've beaten him if they never had the chance to fight so he chose him in order to defeat him... Romero is an old man by the way but still a beast!!!

Infact I took time today to watch Yoel highlight fights for 1hour today, although he is old but the beast is still potent. Israel’s fight wouldn’t be a gripping fight. Am just scare if that beast pins my boy down. Na big wahala ooo. But one on one fight Izzy go finish am. Anyway let’s wait till 10pm.

ozoebuka1:
That Israel is a mad man... Nobody wants to fight Romero but Israel specifically chose Romero for himself... He said he doesn't want to hear people saying Romero would've beaten him if they never had the chance to fight so he chose him in order to defeat him... Romero is an old man by the way but still a beast!!!

cmoney22222:
Infact I took time today to watch Yoel highlight fights for 1hour today, although he is old but the beast is still potent. Israel’s fight wouldn’t be a gripping fight. Am just scare if that beast pins my boy down. Na big wahala ooo. But one on one fight Izzy go finish am. Anyway let’s wait till 10pm.

Alas Israel won... Israel is a monster if you ask me

saw the fight now.... Up Izzy... Did you hear what Yoel said after the match interview?

ozoebuka1:
Alas Israel won... Israel is a monster if you ask me