Israel Adesanya Biography, Age, Background, Family, Awards, Career & More: Israel Adesanya is a Nigerian-born New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and boxer. He was born on July 22, 1989, in Lagos, Nigeria, and grew up in Auckland, New Zealand.
Adesanya began training in martial arts at a young age and competed in various disciplines, including karate, kickboxing, and boxing. He made his professional kickboxing debut in 2014 and quickly gained recognition for his striking ability, winning multiple titles in various promotions.
In 2018, Adesanya made his debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and quickly became a fan favorite due to his dynamic fighting style and showmanship. He won his first six fights in the UFC, including victories over top-ranked middleweights such as Anderson Silva, Kelvin Gastelum, and Robert Whittaker.
Adesanya won the UFC middleweight championship in October 2019, defeating Robert Whittaker by second-round knockout. He has since defended his title successfully against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori. As of September 2021, Adesanya has a professional MMA record of 21 wins and only 1 loss.
Outside of fighting, Adesanya is known for his unique fashion sense and has been featured in various fashion publications. He has also been an advocate for mental health and has spoken publicly about his own struggles with depression.
Adesanya’s success in the UFC has made him one of the most popular fighters in the promotion, and he is considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
Israel Adesanya Background
Israel Adesanya is a professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and boxer. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1989, and grew up in Auckland, New Zealand. Adesanya had a passion for martial arts from a young age and began training in taekwondo when he was 10 years old. He moved to New Zealand in 2011 to pursue a career in kickboxing and won several titles before transitioning to MMA in 2018. Adesanya quickly became one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and won the middleweight championship in 2019. He is also known for his unique fashion sense and advocacy for mental health.
Israel Adesanya Career
Israel Adesanya is a professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and boxer. He began his combat sports career in taekwondo at the age of 10 and later trained in boxing, kickboxing, and karate. In 2011, Adesanya moved to Auckland, New Zealand to pursue a career in kickboxing. He quickly made a name for himself in the New Zealand combat sports scene and won several titles, including the IKBF South Pacific middleweight title and the WKBF middleweight title.
Adesanya made his professional kickboxing debut in 2014 and won the Glory Middleweight contender tournament in 2017, defeating legendary kickboxer Yousri Belgaroui in the final. In 2018, Adesanya transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA) and made his debut in the UFC. He won his first six fights in the UFC, including a victory over former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
Adesanya won the UFC middleweight championship in October 2019, defeating Robert Whittaker by second-round knockout. He has since defended his title successfully against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori. Adesanya is known for his dynamic striking ability and unique fighting style, which combines elements of various martial arts. He is also known for his flamboyant personality and fashion sense, often wearing elaborate costumes to his fights.
Israel Adesanya is also an accomplished artist and designer. He has designed his own walkout shirts for his UFC fights and has also collaborated with companies such as Puma and Toyota. Adesanya is also a vocal advocate for mental health and has spoken publicly about his own struggles with depression. He hopes to use his platform as a successful athlete to bring awareness to mental health issues and reduce the stigma around seeking help.
Israel Adesanya Awards
- King in the Ring cruiserweight tournament champion (2015)
- Kiwi Wrestler of the Year (2016)
- Glory Middleweight contender tournament champion (2017)
- Breakthrough Fighter of the Year at the 2018 World MMA Awards
- UFC Middleweight Champion (2019 – present)
- International Fighter of the Year at the 2020 World MMA Awards
- Sportsman of the Year at the 2020 Nigerian Sports Awards
- GQ Sportsman of the Year in 2021
- Nominated for Fighter of the Year at the 2021 ESPY Awards
FAQ
Q: What is Israel Adesanya’s fighting style?
Ans: Israel Adesanya’s fighting style is a combination of various martial arts, including kickboxing, boxing, karate, and taekwondo. He is known for his dynamic striking ability, footwork, and precision.
Q: How did Israel Adesanya get into combat sports?
Ans: Israel Adesanya began training in taekwondo at the age of 10 and later transitioned to boxing, kickboxing, and karate. He moved to Auckland, New Zealand in 2011 to pursue a career in kickboxing and quickly made a name for himself in the New Zealand combat sports scene.
Q: What are some of Israel Adesanya’s notable achievements?
Ans: Israel Adesanya has won several championships and awards throughout his combat sports career, including the King in the Ring cruiserweight tournament, the Glory Middleweight contender tournament, and the UFC middleweight championship. He has also been recognized for his contributions to fashion and design, winning the GQ Sportsman of the Year award in 2021.
Q: What is Israel Adesanya’s record in the UFC?
Ans: As of September 2021, Israel Adesanya has a professional record of 21 wins and 1 loss, with 15 of those wins coming in the UFC. He is currently the UFC middleweight champion and has defended his title successfully on four occasions.
Q: What is Israel Adesanya’s background?
Ans: Israel Adesanya was born in Nigeria and grew up in New Zealand. He has a background in various martial arts, including taekwondo, boxing, kickboxing, and karate. He also has a degree in design and visual arts from the Auckland University of Technology.