Israel Adesanya beats Robert Whittaker by KO to become middleweight champion at UFC 243 in Melbourne

ISRAEL ADESANYA won the Australasia derby against Robert Whittaker in Melbourne to make sure the bragging rights, along with the UFC middleweight title, went back to New Zealand.

The Last Stylebender completed his four-year journey from fan in the ‘nosebleed’ seats watching Holly Holm dethrone Ronda Rousey, to world champion at the very same venue.

Auklander Adesanya defeated champion Whittaker in front of a new record UFC crowd as 57,000 fans packed in the Marvel Stadium to witness the devastating two round destruction.

He said: “I was in the nosebleeds, now I made his nose bleed.

“He threw everything we expected. We had everything from his plan A to C and we had it up to Z.

“I can take it and I can give it back. I don’t like getting hit, it’s stupid getting hit, but I’m tough.

“Me and my team are real smart.

“Marvel comics we’ve got to do something after this.”

From the opening bell emotions were running high Down Under, and the champion came out swinging.

Looking for a heavy shot to put the fight away early Australia’s sweetheart Whittaker was beginning to be picked off by a cooler, and calmer Adesanya.

The challenger looked to be avoiding the punches coming his way by the narrowest of margins, but his timing and patience paid off.

At the end of round one with Whittaker fully committed to an attack Stylebender leaned back and delivered a swift right hook counter.

The shot floored Whittaker with only the bell saving the champion from defeat in the opening five minutes.

Staring defeat in the face the Aussie rolled the dice again and looked for the shot to end it all.

But Adesanya just was not there. He was a step ahead of Whittaker.

Stylebender dared his Australian foe to step into range and trade blow for blow – and the bait was soon taken.

Whittaker landed with a shot over the top, but was immediately met with a devastating counter shot, which again left him on the seat of his pants.

A perfectly delivered left hook spelled the beginning of the end as Adesanya leaped in to finish his downed opponent off – and the fight was soon over.

Just seven fights into his UFC career and 30-year-old Stylebender is ruler of the middleweight division, coming into the fight already owning the interim title after beating Kelvin Gastelum in April.