Israel Adesanya is a Nigerian born New Zealand Mixed Marshal Artist based in America where he currently terrorizes fellow competitors in the UFC franchise where he is the current UFC Middleweight Champion. Israel Adesanya is also a former Glory Middleweight Championship title challenger. At 6 feet 4 inches, he is one of the best strikers in the whole Mixed Marshal Arts world, and has great reach; which makes him incredibly difficult to fight.
Israel Adesanya has unprecedented body balance for a fighter of such height; he has a penchant for being ruthless on the attack when he wants to; and he can be very defensive when he deems it necessary as well. Israel Adesanya has been known for beating opponents using his defensive stance, and only striking on the counter attack. While this system has been effective in helping Israel Adesanya to retain his Middle Weight Championship, it has also drawn sharp criticism from critics who say the style is boring. Nevertheless, Israel Adesanya has shown that he is the best striker in the business; one who can deliver a series of accurate blows on his opponent without exposing himself to any significant risks.
Israel Adesanya got his Purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under André Galvao, and is currently trained by Eugene Bareman, and Andrei Păuleț to perform the Kickboxing style of marshal arts. He is billed as ‘Fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand,’ but he has severally displayed the Nigerian flag after his victories and on social media.
Israel Adesanya Biography
Israel Adesanya’ is nicknamed The Last Stylebender. He was born on July 22, 1989, in Lagos Nigeria. His father is a retired accountant, and his mother a retired nurse. Israel is the first of five children born to the family; and as a child he was very physical. Israel Adesanya attended Chrisland School, Opebi Ikeja, and signed up for Taekwondo as an after school sporting activity. He was subsequently removed from the club by his mother after he suffered an injury.
Israel Adesanya then travelled with his parents to Ghana but he only stayed in the country for about 10 months. He was sent to New Zealand at the age of 10, and he attended Rotorua Boys’ High School. The young Adesanya was bullied when he was in high school, and that ill treatment no doubt contributed to his interest in martial arts as he needed to defend himself.
An interesting thing happened in the years that followed; Israel Adesanya graduated high school graduation, and then he saw the movie Ong Bak (made in Thailand) and was drawn into marshal arts. He enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Computer Design at the Universal College of Learning in Whanganui, New Zealand, but only lasted two years in his studies because he decided fully pursue a career in kickboxing. He did immensely well as an Amateur; making a record of 32–0, and then heading to China to turn professional.
At the age of 21, Adesanya returned to New Zealand, to train harder; this time under the tutelage of Eugene Bareman at City Kickboxing. Some of his fellow students who became UFC fighters include Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France and Alexander Volkanovski.
After impressive showings in china under the Mixed Marshal Arts, he went switched allegiances to the UFC, and in 2017 he signed his contract. He made his debut in UFC in a match against Rob Wilkinson in February 2018, and he won that match by a Technical Knockout.
He then went on to win several other bouts until he landed his first UFC on 13 April 2019, after a match with Kelvin Gastelum for the interim UFC Middleweight Championship. The fight was keenly contested; and actually proved Israel Adesanya as a serious contender for UFC glory. The fight earned him a fight of the night award, and the fight was regarded as the fight of the year.
That was Israel Adesanya’s introduction to the league of champions; he has continued to show his dominance; charging from weight class to weight class and winning laurels along the way.
He fought Robert Whittaker in a title unification match on 6 October 2019, and beat him in the second round. This win gave him a Performance of the Night award- his fourth at the time.
Adesanya then defended his title on March 7, 2020 against UFC title challenger Yoel Romero. He won the fight via unanimous decision, defending his title for the first time. He was laid back, and only struck on counters; many people called the fight boring.
Adesanya then faced fellow undefeated fighter Paulo Costa on 27 September 2020. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second, and he won his fifth Performance of the Night award.
Adesanya moved up a weight class and squared up against Jan Błachowicz for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on 6 March 2021, however, he was defeated in this bout. This was his first defeat.
Adesanya then fought Marvin Vettori in a rematch for the UFC Middleweight Championship on 12 June 2021, he won the bout via a unanimous decision.
Adesanya and Robert Whittaker then squared off one more time for the UFC Middleweight Championship. This was on 12 February 2022. He won via unanimous decision.
Israel Adesanya Net Worth 2024 – $10 million US Dollars)
Israel Adesanya’s Net worth is estimated to be in the region of $10 million US Dollars. His sources of wealth include salaries for fights, and endorsement deals. He once won $590,000 for a single days work. He has several endorsement deals including those with peak milk and Reebok.
Israel Adesanya Wife
Israel Adesanya is still not yet married. Maybe he has no time for women at the moment.
Israel Adesanya Age (32 Years)
He was born on was born on July 22, 1989; making him 32 years old.
Conclusion:
Israel Adesanya is a Mixed Marshal Arts fighter born in Nigeria, but currently billed out of New Zealand where he was trained. He is the current Middle Weight Champion of the UFC, and has only been defeated once. Israel Adesanya is known for his reach, his body balance, and his accurate strikes which have earned him quite a reputation. He is one of the toughest and most technical fighters in the UFC, and is very difficult to beat.
