Israel Adesanya looks back on ‘one of the most boring fights in history’ with Yoel Romero

Israel Adesanya has reflected candidly on his UFC 248 middleweight title defense against Yoel Romero, acknowledging it as one of the most forgettable contests in company history—a stark contrast to his celebrated war with Kelvin Gastelum, which earned Hall of Fame recognition.

Despite both fighters entering the contest with impressive knockout-laden résumés, the 2020 bout devolved into 25 minutes of defensive chess that produced minimal meaningful action. Adesanya eventually secured a decision victory, though neither combatant generated the fireworks fans expected.

Reflecting on the fight during a recent YouTube breakdown, Adesanya recalled a moment when Romero connected with a significant strike that momentarily dazed him. "He hit me with that zinger, I seen four in front of me, and I thought, 'OK, he's going to come in for the kill,'" Adesanya said, explaining his subsequent caution. Rather than press forward, Romero elected not to escalate, leading both fighters into a largely tentative stalemate.

Adesanya accepted responsibility alongside Romero for the bout's uninspired nature, attributing the passivity to mutual wariness of the other's striking power. "There's a reason he didn't want to come close and there's a reason I didn't want to risk again getting hit by that zinger," he acknowledged.

The discussion emerged while Adesanya analyzed UFC 332, another event drawing criticism for lacking narrative depth. He argued that fight cards succeed or fail based less on athlete caliber than on compelling storylines cultivated through embedded documentaries, countdowns, and fighter content. "People love a storyline," he noted. "Even though you guys want to clown WWE, you love a storyline."