Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. A popular
Ultimate Fighting Championship champ leveled up his grappling
recently. On Tuesday, an emotional Israel
Adesanya (20-0) was awarded his Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt
from highly acclaimed coach Andre
Galvao. The former blue belt Adesanya sat down to roll with
Galvao, the co-founder of Atos Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego, when Galvao
surprised him behind his back with the belt advancement. Adesanya
had been with the team for a five-week stint along with other City
Kickboxing teammates, and he made a promise to the team that once
per week, he will train in jiu-jitsu with a gi.
On his Instagram, Adesanya celebrated his accomplishment,
writing:
I smoked with Snoop Dogg, I surfed [with] Kelly Slater, I rolled
with Andre
Galvao. This has been the highlight of my trip so far, being
surprised with a purple belt by [Galvao]. Although initially I
didn’t feel like I deserve this, I trust his judgment and feel I
have earned this. In my short time here I’ve felt my jiu-jitsu
level up. I love knocking people out, but it’s time to start
tapping them out!”
Adesanya last competed in September at UFC 253, when he clobbered
Paulo
Costa in just under nine minutes to defend his throne. In the
process, he became the first undefeated male UFC champ to stave off
a fellow lossless foe in a title fight. With lightweight champ
Khabib
Nurmagomedov currently retired, Adesanya has the highest
unbeaten perfect record among all active UFC fighters. Scoring four
knockouts since joining the UFC ranks, the middleweight king sports
a career finish rate of 75 percent. He has yet to win a pro fight
by submission.
