ISRAEL ADESANYA could not contain his emotions as he watched his friend Blood Diamond become a UFC fighter.
Adesanya and Mike Mathetha, his team-mate, were both on the same UFC 271 card for the first time since their humble beginnings.
Mathetha and the Middleweight Champion were both former kickboxers who trained at City Kickboxing in Auckland before Mathetha made it big in Dana White’s promotion.
The Last Stylebender's friend, however, followed him to the big dance. He became the first ever Zimbabwean fighter to compete at the Octagon.
Adesanya was filmed by BT Sport cameras as he watched his team-mate perform the ceremonial weigh ins backstage last Wednesday.
After seeing his friend make it to the big screen, the Nigerian-born bruiser burst into tears.
The clip showed both fighters' pasts as they worked their way up the ladder.
Adesanya then made his way to the podium for his weigh-in prior to last Saturday's title fight.
After beating Robert Whittaker by unanimous decision at Houston's Toyota Center, the Middleweight Champion was able to defend his belt.
Blood Diamond, however, was unable to win his debut as he lost to Jeremiah Wells.
Wells won a technical submission in round one with a rear-naked choke.
