Israel Adesanya’s last four losses have all been refereed by Marc Goddard.
That includes “The Last Stylebender’s” technical knockout defeat to longtime rival Alex Pereira atop the UFC 281 pay-per-view (PPV) event at Madison Square Garden back in late 2022, a standing finish that had some fans crying foul.
“I’m fucking sorry,” Goddard told Adesanya when they crossed paths at UFC 312.
“Don’t be,” Adesanya replied. “Hey, I’ll tell you one thing: the one in New York I was like ‘ehh’ but this one was good. You know why? I wasn’t there. I was moving, but it was all instincts.”
Adesanya (24-5) was referring to his technical knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia earlier this month in Riyadh, a performance that had some insiders claim “it’s over” for the 35 year-old “Last Stylebender.”
“Thank you to all who understand the role in which we play, protection is paramount,” Goddard wrote on Instagram. “Decisions are over the second they are made, the conscience lives forever. Honored, blessed and thankful. On the biggest stage there is, of the fighters, for the fighters — they remain the Kings.”
Adesanya avenged his loss to Pereira at UFC 287 and recently joined Team Chama in Sydney.