Kiwi middleweight UFC star Israel Adesanya has been the talk of the town since his brutal first round TKO win over US veteran Derek Brunson at UFC 230 at Madison Square Garden in New York yesterday.
The 29-year-old's strength and conditioning coach, Sunz Singh, said the Nigerian-born fighter has been building towards this moment for years.
"He has a vision, he puts it out there and says, 'I'm going to do this', and he makes it happen," said Singh.
"He doesn't back away from anything. I guess he's always had that since he was a kid. Always strives to be better, that African culture – he's always pushed, pushed, pushed."
Singh said that Adesanya has an incredible work ethic and is striving to be the best in the sport of mixed-martial arts.
"He's had about four and a half years with me but there's four years before that, where he has turned up to City Kickboxing [in Auckland] and has been working and working.
"It's not like it has happened over eight weeks. It's happened over eight years. He hasn't taken his foot off."
UFC president Dana White said at yesterday's press conference that Adesanya has big future in the MMA organisation.
"Israel has been a guy who has been on the rise here for a minute, but I really felt like tonight was his first big test," said White.
"His opponent hits like a truck and wrestles really well, and Madison Square Garden, opening the show, man, did he deliver.
"Many people - including me - think this kid is the future, and he went out and put a stamp on it tonight."
Adesanya is undefeated in 15 MMA fights and has won four out four UFC bouts in 2018.
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