ISRAEL ADESANYA couldn't hold back his tears while watching his friend Blood Diamond finally making the scales as a UFC fighter.
Adesanya and his team-mate – whose real name is Mike Mathetha – were on the same card at UFC 271 for the first time ever after their humble beginnings.
The Middleweight Champion and Mathetha used to be kickboxers training at City Kickboxing in Auckland, New Zealand before the former made it big in Dana White's promotion.
But the Last Stylebender's friend followed him to the big dance and became the first ever Zimbabwean-born fighter to compete in the Octagon last weekend.
BT Sport cameras caught Adesanya watching his team-mate make the ceremonial weigh-ins backstage last week.
And the Nigerian-born bruiser broke down in tears after finally watching his close friend making it to the big stage.
The clip then cut out to both fighters' past while they were working their way up the ladder.
Adesanya then walked to the stage for his own weigh-in before last Saturday's title bout.
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The Middleweight Champion successfully defended his belt after beating Robert Whittaker via unanimous decision at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Blood Diamond, on the other hand, didn't manage to cap his debut with a victory as he lost to Jeremiah Wells.
Wells picked up a technical submission with a rear-naked choke in the first round.
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