From being a victim of Racial Abuse to UFC champion – Meet Israel Adesanya

On the 6th of March in Las Vegas Nigeria-born New Zealand fighter Israel Adesanya popularly known as “The Last Stylebender” attempts to become the fourth fighter to be a two-weight world champion in the UFC.

The reigning champion of the middleweight division is climbing up the division to try and win the UFC’s light heavyweight belt from Polish MMA fighter Jan Blachowicz. The Nigerian-born Adesanya faces an uphill task on Saturday night against the Pole, who is more experienced and heavier, but the New Zealander is not a stranger to fighting ‘monsters’.

Throughout Adesanya’s life, he’s had to face and conquer physical and psychological challenges on his path to glory. The Last Stylebender’s first major hurdle came when he was just 10-year-old when his family (parents and four younger siblings) relocated to New Zealand back in 1999.

The Adesanya family settled on the North Island of Rotorua, New Zealand, and the fighter disclosed at first he had no interest in taking up any kind of sports and was more into Japanese anime comic books, which played a part in his huge fanbase and FanDuel Sportsbook Colorado amassing odds for the Nigerian boxer in his fights.

Israel was subjected to racist abuse during his years in high school at Rotorua Boys’ High School in New Zealand, which has given rise to many other great sports stars, including ex-England rugby union skipper Dylan Hartley and many members of the New Zealand All Black team.

Israel’s academic genius and a massive love of dancing made the African a target for racist abuse – but he now disclosed the emotional and physical scars he suffered from those incidents were behind his decision to go after a career in mixed martial arts.

Israel Adesanya also disclosed that his dancing abilities helped him develop the fluid fighting techniques he possesses in the sport today.

Israel’s turning point finally came after watching the blockbuster martial arts movie titled Ong Bak. The fighter confirmed that the movie had so much effect on him that he opted to quit his computer science degree course at 18 to pursue a kickboxing career. He went on to rack up an excellent 32-0 record as an amateur.

After Israel’s success in kickboxing, he opted to move to Auckland when he clocked 21 and turn his focus to learning Mixed Martial Arts. His love for MMA made him decide to work with MMA trainer Eugene Bareman but his early days in the sports weren’t easy.

The New Zealander also found time to fight boxing professionally, winning the Super8 Boxing tournament in New Zealand back in 2014 and 2015. His record stands at 5 victories and one controversial defeat on points.

Israel Adesanya signed with MMA’s most lucrative company, the Ultimate Fighting Championship in December 2017. He made his UFC debut two months later, knocking out Australia fighter Rob Wilkinson at UFC 221 in Perth in a dazzling performance.

He subsequently fought and defeated Marvin Vettori, Brad Tavares, as well as American fighter Derek Brunson and the legendary Anderson Silva.

He went on to win the interim UFC middleweight championship against Kevin Gastelumby’s unanimous decision before knocking out Robert Whittaker in Melbourne to become the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.

Two successful UFC middleweight title defenses against Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa have solidified his place at the apex along with a flawless record of 20 victories and no defeats with 15 knockouts.

Israel Adesanya is aiming to become a ‘double champion’ on Saturday by holding two belts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at the same time. Only Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, Henry Cejudo, and Conor McGregor have simultaneously held two UFC belts.

Adesanya is looking to be the first fighter to ever conquer the 185 pounds and the 205-pound weight class simultaneously as no fighter has ever achieved such a feat.