5 Fighters Poised To Take Conor McGregor’s Place As The Face Of UFC
2. Israel Adesanya
UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya is an MMA promoter's dream.
The 30-year-old has an exciting fighting style, natural charisma, and isn't afraid of engaging in a little trash-talk to sell a fight. Moreover, as we witnessed at UFC 243, he knows how to make an epic entrance.
The recently crowned middleweight king is already selling out stadiums that hold 57,000 people, but he's yet to become an elite pay-per-view draw. This is likely due in part to opponents he's faced thus far.
His last three bouts were against Anderson Silva, Kelvin Gastelum, and Robert Whittaker. All three men are elite mixed martial artists, but none of them are particularly good at selling a fight and weren't willing to engage with Adesanya to create the kind of soundbites that make press conferences memorable.
'The Last Stylebender' needs a Chael Sonnen type of talker to duel with, in order help build the kind of anticipation that brings in casual fans. Once the casuals get to know Adesanya, they're sure to become fans.