Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya shortly named Israel Adesanya, born on July 22, 1989, is a New Zealander professional athlete, excelling in mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and former boxing pursuits. Competing in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), he has achieved the status of a two-time UFC Middleweight Champion. In kickboxing, Adesanya has distinguished himself as a former contender for the Glory Middleweight Championship title. As of March 21, 2023, he holds the #5 position in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings. In his professional boxing career, Adesanya has participated in 6 matches, securing 5 wins, including 1 by knockout, and enduring 1 loss. In kickboxing, his impressive record reflects 80 matches with 75 victories, 29 of which were by knockout, and 5 losses, 1 of which was by knockout. In his thriving mixed martial arts journey, he has engaged in 27 bouts, triumphing in 24, with 16 wins by knockout and 8 by decision, while suffering 3 losses, 1 by knockout, and 2 by decision.
Israel Adesanya is a versatile New Zealand athlete, excelling in MMA, kickboxing, and former boxing. He's a two-time UFC Middleweight Champion in MMA, previously contending for the Glory Middleweight Championship in kickboxing. As of March 21, 2023, he ranks #5 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound list, with a successful professional record that includes 5 boxing wins, 75 kickboxing victories (29 by knockout), and 24 MMA wins (16 by knockout).
Born on July 22, 1989, in Lagos, Nigeria, Israel Adesanya, whose real name is Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya, proudly holds Nigerian-Ghanaian nationality and identifies with Nigerian-African ethnicity. He is the eldest among his four siblings, including David Adesanya (Younger Brother), Deborah Adesanya (Younger Sister), Samuel Adesanya (Younger Brother), and Bolu Adesanya (Younger Brother). Adesanya's parents are Oluwafemi, an accountant, and Taiwo, a nurse. His educational journey saw him initially attending Chrisland School, Opebi, where he briefly engaged in the Taekwondo after-school club before being removed due to an injury. In 1999, he and his family lived in Ghana for ten months before relocating to New Zealand at the age of ten, seeking quality higher education. He settled in Rotorua, New Zealand, where he attended Rotorua Boys' High School. After graduating from high school, he pursued a Bachelor of Science in Computer Design at the Universal College of Learning in Whanganui. Adesanya's passion for combat sports emerged at the age of 18 when he began training in kickboxing, inspired by the Muay Thai film Ong-Bak.
At 21, Adesanya made the pivotal decision to abandon his studies and transition into a professional kickboxing career, amassing an impressive amateur record of 32-0 before venturing into professional fighting in China. His martial arts journey continued as he relocated to Auckland, New Zealand, where he trained in mixed martial arts under the guidance of Eugene Bareman at City Kickboxing, alongside notable UFC fighters like Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France, and the current UFC Featherweight Champion, Alexander Volkanovski. In addition, Adesanya honed his wrestling skills under the tutelage of Romanian New Zealander Andrei Păuleț.
Israel Adesanya, in May 2010, began a seven-fight winning streak, mainly in China's Wu Lin Feng promotion, leading to his participation in the 2014 Kunlun Fight 80 kg tournament, where he lost in the semifinals to Simon Marcus. Adesanya's Glory debut at Glory 15 resulted in a loss to Filip Verlinden, but he later avenged it at Glory of Heroes 3. He then shifted his focus to kickboxing tournaments in New Zealand, winning the King in the Ring Cruiserweights II and Cruiserweights III tournaments, as well as The Heavyweights III. Adesanya's journey also included a shot at the Glory Middleweight Championship, where he faced a controversial loss to Jason Wilnis. His final kickboxing bout was a rematch against Alex Pereira, ending in a knockout loss before transitioning to mixed martial arts.
Adesanya's professional career began in 2012, marked by a TKO win in his professional debut. He took a two-year hiatus before returning with another TKO victory in 2015. In the lead-up to the UFC, he amassed an 8-0 record, securing titles in various circuits. His UFC journey began in 2018, winning his debut and earning Performance of the Night bonuses. Adesanya's rise continued with victories against notable opponents, earning Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards. He became the UFC Middleweight Champion and defended his title successfully. Adesanya moved up a weight class but lost his first MMA fight. He later reclaimed the middleweight title in a rematch. However, in November 2022, he lost to Alex Pereira, only to regain the title in a rematch in April 2023.
In a highly anticipated rematch for the UFC Middleweight Championship, Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira squared off on April 8, 2023, at UFC 287, with Adesanya reclaiming the title in impressive fashion via a second-round knockout, subsequently earning the prestigious Performance of the Night award. However, Adesanya's momentum took an unexpected turn when he faced Sean Strickland on September 10, 2023, at UFC 293, where he suffered a significant upset, succumbing to a unanimous decision loss, with all three judges scoring the bout 49-46.
Boxing
Kickboxing
King in the Ring
Glory
Combat Press
Mixed martial arts
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Interim UFC Middleweight Championship (One time)
Performance of the Night (Six times) vs. Rob Wilkinson, Brad Tavares, Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa and Alex Pereira
Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Anderson Silva and Kelvin Gastelum
Australian Fighting Championship
Hex Fighting Series Middleweight
MMAJunkie.com
MMA Fighting
CombatPress.com
CagesidePress.com
MMADNA.nl
The Body Lock
World MMA Awards
MMAMania.com
Halberg Awards
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Israel Adesanya is currently in a relationship with Shana Evers. His girlfriend, Shana is an Australian model by profession. While they appear to be deeply in love, the couple prefers to keep their relationship more private, refraining from publicly disclosing its details. Although the exact duration of their relationship remains undisclosed, it is rumored that they have been together since September 2021.
Before dating Shana, Adesanya's romantic life made headlines in 2019 when he was seen with Charlotte Powdrell, a New Zealand native working as a professional real estate licensee. However, their relationship garnered significant media attention but eventually ended sometime in mid-2020, with both Adesanya and Powdrell choosing to keep the reasons for their breakup confidential. His relationship with Powdrell became widely known in early 2019, as the couple made appearances at various public events, capturing media attention. Despite rumors of their separation circulating in mid-2020 after nearly a year together, neither Adesanya nor Powdrell publicly disclosed the specifics of their breakup, maintaining their privacy on the matter.
Israel Adesanya, the renowned mixed martial artist, has accumulated an estimated net worth of $4 million as of 2023, primarily stemming from his successful fighting career and supplemented by lucrative endorsement deals with companies such as Engage, Puma, and PRIME, a hydration company. Currently earning an annual salary exceeding $1.5 million, Adesanya has garnered substantial income from his UFC fights, consistently surpassing the million-dollar mark in his last five bouts. Notably, in his second fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 287, Adesanya secured a substantial paycheck totaling $3.18 million, comprising a $1 million base salary, $2 million from pay-per-view sales, a $100,000 win bonus, a $50,000 UFC bonus, and $32,000 from sponsorship deals.
Alongside his professional success, Adesanya indulges in his passion for luxury cars, regularly showcasing them on his Instagram. His impressive car collection includes a McLaren 720s Spider valued at approximately $315,000, a Range Rover priced at $80,000, and a Nissan SUV, which he treated himself to on his 2016 birthday, with a maximum price of $29,000, offering a relatively affordable choice among his lavish acquisitions.
Israel Adesanya, the handsome MMA artist, has a striking physical presence with a height of 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and a lean body weight of 84 Kg (185 lb). His distinctive features include a toned and athletic body build, complemented by his close-cropped black hair and deep brown eyes. Notably, he showcases his unique style through an array of tattoos, including the words 'Broken Native' across his chest, accompanied by a map of Africa below it. His right arm, midriff, and neck are adorned with multiple tattoos, enhancing his overall appearance, which is often characterized by a clean-shaven look. Furthermore, his impressive reach extends to 6 ft 8 in (203 cm), underscoring his physical prowess in the world of mixed martial arts.
During his high school years, Israel Adesanya's interests diverged from sports, as he found himself more captivated by Japanese anime, particularly favorites like "Death Note," and the manga series "Naruto." His passion for these forms of entertainment took precedence over traditional sports pursuits, reflecting the diverse range of influences that have shaped his life journey, ultimately leading him to become a prominent figure in the world of mixed martial arts.
Adesanya's high school years were marked by adversity as he faced bullying, an experience he attributes to his choice to pursue martial arts in his later life. These challenging moments during his formative years not only shaped his resilience but also served as a driving force behind his decision to immerse himself in the world of combat sports. Adesanya's journey from being a victim of bullying to becoming a celebrated mixed martial artist exemplifies his unwavering determination and ability to overcome obstacles, ultimately propelling him to the pinnacle of his chosen discipline.
At the age of 21, he embarked on his martial arts journey when he relocated to Auckland, New Zealand. There, he commenced his training in mixed martial arts under the guidance of Eugene Bareman at City Kickboxing, sharing the mat with promising UFC fighters like Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France, and the current UFC Featherweight Champion, Alexander Volkanovski. Adesanya also dedicated himself to wrestling, receiving instruction from the skilled Romanian New Zealander, Andrei Păuleț. Right from the beginning, Adesanya's courage and determination stood out to Eugene Bareman, who played an instrumental role in nurturing his burgeoning talent in the world of mixed martial arts.
Israel is a multilingual individual, boasting fluency in several languages. Among his linguistic skills, he is proficient in Yoruba, which is his native language, as well as Nigerian Pidgin and English. This linguistic versatility not only reflects his cultural and linguistic diversity but also contributes to his ability to connect with a wide range of people and fans from various backgrounds, adding to his international appeal as a celebrated mixed martial artist.
Before ascending to his status as one of the sport's greatest fighters, Adesanya once toiled in a leather tannery, an experience he regards as one of the most challenging jobs of his life. Despite the hardships he faced during that time, Adesanya's journey in the world of mixed martial arts has been nothing short of remarkable, marked by his relentless dedication and unwavering determination to reach the pinnacle of the sport, achieving numerous milestones along the way.