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Israel, Silva and Takeaways From UFC 234 Moving Forward

Though the main event fell through, fight fans were still treated to a fun card from down under.

This was due in large part to the story and flash of Israel Adesanya vs. Anderson Silva being bumped up to the main event. Now that the card is final and the dust has settled, let's take a look at the big picture takeaways.

1. Silva is a Crafty Vet and This Fight Was a Great Learning Experience for Adesanya

Make no mistake about it -- smart fighters have long careers.

While mainstream MMA props up head hunting and throwing defense out the window, what we saw with Adesanya and Silva was an example of what happens when two high IQ fighters face off. The biggest pleasant surprise is that Silva held his own more than I thought he would.

I've heard fans say that Adesanya let his foot off the gas, or that it was a glorified sparring match. That doesn't do justice to the "art" in martial arts that we saw last night. It was a chess match, and both men were rightfully intelligently cautious in each exchange, because they both have the time and precision to put the other out and make them pay for mistakes.

While I think that Adesanya would have eventually put Silva away if it was a 5-round fight, I had it 2-1 going into the decision. It was one to grow on for him, because while he's studied Silva and is currently the superior athlete, Silva touched him up and made him think more than bout he's had in the UFC thus far.

That only bodes well for the rest of his journey.

And as far as Silva goes, this fight only cements his legacy, even in defeat. He's been fighting for a couple of decades and bounced back from a horrific shattered leg injury that required extensive rehab. He deserves the hero's sendoff he's receiving, and it'll be fun to see him fight in Brazil this year.

2. Adesanya Should Take Some Time Off and Let the Championship Sort Itself Out

The uncertainty of Robert Whittaker's health and the middleweight championship gives Adesanya a perfect reason to take some much deserved time off.

He's fought nearly five times in a calendar year and maximized on every opportunity to put himself in the position to get a title shot and become the star he was projected to be. Taking time off will be great for him to rest up and get ready for the title bout, whether that's against Whittaker or Kelvin Gastelum.

By stepping out of the spotlight for a bit also makes the public miss him so that his return and title fight is even more massive. Imagine having him fighting on the International Fight Week card, or opening him up to a world of new fans fighting for the title on ESPN.

Adesanya is poised to become the company's star for the next few years, so there's no rush in pushing the title fight unless it makes the most sense.

3. I'd Be Shocked If Whittaker is Actually Good to Go in 4 Weeks

I'm no medical expert, but if Whittaker's hernia was as horrific as stated, saying he'll be healthy again in 4 weeks could be a bit optimistic.

Even if he's rested and ready to go after the surgery, it makes more sense to err on the side of caution. In the meantime, Gastelum should put the belt down and stop calling himself the champ... BUT, I completely see his point.

He probably sees the very real possibility of getting passed over for a title shot once Whittaker returns and has no contractual power to lean on, so he's instead leaning on the tried and true UFC strategy of promoting a gimmick.

The rest of the year should be fun to watch as these pieces fall into place.