ANDERSON SILVA’S RETURN to the octagon against Israel Adesanya was promoted to main event status at UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia, but his comeback did not go to plan as he suffered a unanimous decision defat.
The headline fight at the Rod Laver Arena was cancelled just hours before the card was due to start when middleweight champion Robert Whittaker withdrew from his scheduled title defence against Kevin Gastelum.
Whittaker was suffering from a “severe abdominal injury requiring emergency surgery”, the UFC said.
In its place, Adesanya improved his undefeated record to 16-0 with a 29-28, 30-27, 30-27 victory against Silva.
The 43-year-old Brazilian, who held the middleweight title for seven years, was making his first appearance since serving a one-year ban for failing a doping test — a positive which the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) ruled to have been caused by a contaminated supplement.
Silva also served a one-year doping ban in 2015 – which he blamed on sexual enhancement medication — after failing multiple tests in the run up to his fight against Nick Diaz.
“This is like, for a kid, if I played basketball against Michael Jordan. This is it for me,” Adesanya said after his victory.
I do this shit for real, and I do it against the best. Crazy week. I showed up to work, a lot of people didn’t. It’s out of their hands, you know, sometimes it’s not in their control.
“But, hey, Player One has the controller so I showed up. Anderson, thank you. You’ve been doing this for a long time, my friend. I appreciate you.”
Lando Vannata, Ricky Simon, Montana De La Rosa and Jim Crute were also victorious on the main card.
UFC 234 – Main card results
- Israel Adesanya def. Anderson Silva UD (29-28, 30-27 x 2)
- Lando Vannata def. Marcos Mariano SUB1 (kimura, 4:55)
- Ricky Simon def. Rani Yahya UD (30-27 x 2, 30-25)
- Montana De La Rosa def. Nadia Kassem SUB2 (armbar, 2:37)
- Jim Crute def. Sam Alvey TKO1 (2:49)
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I voted yes. He is the “in-form” Irish striker in the Premiership this season. Fair enough, Best has scored a few goals but his all round play isn’t as good as Walters. The Stoke man offers pace, strength, work rate and can bang in a goal or two.
Would it be mental to put McCarthy or Fahey in behind Keane?
Yip, it would. We need a physical presence up front. Jon Walters is the man.
What about Skokes? Maybe manager should be looking at what’s best for team and putting personal differences behind him…
yes i agree stokes is the manor best
Stokes?? Are you for real??
I feel it would be foolish to play an extra man in midfield because the team is used to playing together in a 442. Probably not a good idea to go messing about with players and tactics. If keane was up front on his own he would forget to stay on the central defenders toes and be running all over the place. We need the physical presence of Walters in the frontline battle.
Walters deserves a shot. He was impressive during his cameo versus Armenia. Dont forget the cat is no in the bag!
No, he should stick to the journalism !!
:)
I would be very happy if Walters starts. He is a prescene but much more than a “big man” up front. Has a good first touch and a decent range of passing. We have a surprisingly decent range of options up front at the moment with Keane, Doyle, Long, Walters, Cox and Best. If Conor Sammon starts to get a bit more playing time at Wigan he could sharpen up too
Eh Ch’yeah!
yes walters should start up front with robbie keane,we have to stay with a 4 4 2 formation and go for it
Personally I would choose Walters up front with Best. Keane is rusty and his best days are behind him! Either way a One nil to us will set us up nicely.
Scored a great goal for Galaxy last week? I think Doyle being sent off v Armenia showed us the potential of Walters up front on his own..
James McCarthy – good player, should be starting every game
Perry groves !!!