5 possible opponents for Anderson Silva's UFC return

#4: Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya has taken Silva's mantle as the flashiest striker at 185lbs

While Paulo Costa appears to be taking up the mantle of the best Brazilian Middleweight, the mantle of the flashy striker who appears to be performing moves from The Matrix seems to have passed not to a Brazilian, but the Nigerian/New Zealander ‘Stylebender’ Israel Adesanya. Adesanya is already 3-0 in the UFC, and his last win was hugely impressive, as he picked apart tough veteran Brad Tavares for five rounds.

Like Silva when he was in his pomp, Adesanya’s flashy striking style simply draws fans to him, and his self-confident attitude means he’s got the ability on the microphone to sell any fight, too. Currently ‘The Last Stylebender’ is booked to fight Derek Brunson at UFC 230, but win or lose, a fight with the returning Silva could make sense.

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If Adesanya beats Brunson, he’s a legitimate title contender, but in a top-heavy division a title shot might still be a long way off, meaning a fight with Silva could be a nice distraction in the interim. And if he were to lose to Brunson, a fight with Silva – and hopefully a win over the legend – would be enough to rebuild his reputation as the division’s premier flashy striker.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Johny Payne