Talented Auckland based striker Israel Adesanya will step in to face UFC veteran Dylan Andrews for the middleweight title at Australian Fighting Championships (AFC) 20 next month. Adesanya replaces the injured Priscus Fogagnolo, who will be out of action for at least 12 months after suffering a nasty knee injury.
Adesanya (9-0 MMA) has split his time between MMA, kickboxing and boxing since he began fighting in 2009 and has racked up impressive records in all three sports. Originally from Nigeria, the 27 year-old, who trains at City Kickboxing in Auckland, has predominantly fought for Chinese promotions in recent years however a stint in the US based Glory Kickboxing saw him earn a shot at the middleweight title after taking out the promotion’s four-man, middleweight contender tournament.
“The Style bender” now returns to mixed martial arts following recent knockout victories in the sport against Andrew Flores Smith (16-10) and Murad Kuramagomedov (5-2).
Andrews (18-7), meanwhile, returns to the promotion after scoring a highlight reel knockout of Papy Abedi in Sweden, the Ultimate Fighter 17 product’s first fight since being released from the UFC back in 2015.
AFC 20 will take place at the Melbourne Pavilion on July 28.
