Israel Adesanya has expressed disappointment about his match against Yoel Romero. The fight, which was the main event of UFC 248 in 2020, took place while Adesanya was the middleweight champion and Romero was considered one of the division’s top threats, despite inconsistent performances. Unfortunately, the bout failed to deliver excitement, with both fighters unable to connect, resulting in a largely uneventful 25 minutes and a lackluster decision victory for Adesanya.
Reflecting on the fight in a recent YouTube analysis, prompted by Romero’s recent bare-knuckle boxing loss to Darren Till, Adesanya remarked, “I had one of the most thrilling fights ever [versus Kelvin Gastelum] that’s now in the UFC Hall of Fame, but I also had one of the dullest fights in the company’s history with Yoel Romero. We are both dangerous, and when he landed that big shot, I thought he was going to finish me, but he didn’t follow through.”
Before their clash, both fighters had earned reputations for explosive finishes and highlight-reel moments, but those didn’t materialize in their fight. Adesanya holds himself accountable as much as Romero for the uneventful nature of the bout, admitting, “He played it smart, and yeah, it was boring, but he’s dangerous. There’s a reason neither of us wanted to get too close again after that shot—so credit to him.”
Adesanya’s video mainly tackled UFC 332, an event criticized for its underwhelming main event—a last-minute title fight between Natalia Silva and Wang Cong. He argued the real issue wasn’t the fighters or their caliber but the absence of compelling storylines and character buildup. “People are calling it the worst UFC card ever, but looking closely, it might not be,” Adesanya said. “What it’s missing is star power and storytelling. Fans get invested through storylines, fight week documentaries, countdowns, vlogs, and promotional segments. Even if you mock WWE, deep down, everyone loves a good storyline.”
Fan Take: This candid reflection from Adesanya highlights how crucial storytelling is to fan engagement in MMA—without it, even the most talented fighters can produce forgettable matches. For the sport to grow, promotions need to focus not just on matchmaking but on building narratives that draw viewers in and make every fight feel meaningful.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
