On the eve of #UFC271, I want to recount the story of a kid from Nigeria who is now the UFC middleweight champion and one MMA’s pound-for-pound best fighters
Let’s talk about Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya
THREAD 🧵
Let’s talk about Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya
THREAD 🧵
Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya was born on July 22, 1989 in Lagos, Nigeria to Oluwafemi and Taiwo Adesanya
He’s the eldest of five kids
He’s the eldest of five kids
Izzy and his family lived in Lagos for ~9 years
During this time, he made his first discovery of martial arts, enrolling in an after-school Taekwondo program at 8 years old
During this time, he made his first discovery of martial arts, enrolling in an after-school Taekwondo program at 8 years old
But that didn’t last long
Izzy was a little rowdy practicing his new martial art skills
“I was kicking everything in the house and one time I did a stupid backflip off the couch and broke my arm. I got into a lot of trouble for that”
Trouble = mom taking him out of Taekwondo
Izzy was a little rowdy practicing his new martial art skills
“I was kicking everything in the house and one time I did a stupid backflip off the couch and broke my arm. I got into a lot of trouble for that”
Trouble = mom taking him out of Taekwondo
After settling in Ghana for 10 months, Izzy and his family landed in Rotorua, New Zealand
He was the only Black student at Rotorua Boys’ High School, where he was constantly bullied
“That’s when my search for fighting came through.”
He was the only Black student at Rotorua Boys’ High School, where he was constantly bullied
“That’s when my search for fighting came through.”
At 18, Izzy went to university for computer design after graduating high school
This was the path his parents envisioned for him
But the movie — yes, a movie — Ong-Bak starring Tony Jaa inspired Adesanya to start training in Muay Thai
This was the path his parents envisioned for him
But the movie — yes, a movie — Ong-Bak starring Tony Jaa inspired Adesanya to start training in Muay Thai
2 years later, Izzy left his university studies to pursue a kickboxing career full time
He moved to Auckland, New Zealand and met one of the most important people in his journey to becoming champion
Eugene Bareman
He moved to Auckland, New Zealand and met one of the most important people in his journey to becoming champion
Eugene Bareman
He also happened to keep good company at City Kickboxing with future UFC stars Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France and Alexander Volkanovski
Under Bareman’s tutelage at City Kickboxing, Izzy racked up a 32-0 amateur record
This kickboxing thing was working
So, inspired by his teammate Blood Diamond, he decided to pursue it further by moving to China and fighting in the Wu Lin Feng promotion
This kickboxing thing was working
So, inspired by his teammate Blood Diamond, he decided to pursue it further by moving to China and fighting in the Wu Lin Feng promotion
Izzy has said “Those days made me the man I am today”
He often fought bigger and more experienced opponents but knew he had to just keep building up experience
And it wasn’t all fighting during this time: He also held down a daytime job doing data entry to make ends meet
He often fought bigger and more experienced opponents but knew he had to just keep building up experience
And it wasn’t all fighting during this time: He also held down a daytime job doing data entry to make ends meet
Time in China started paying off — he stacked up wins and earned his first nickname “Black Dragon”
Kickboxing was his main trade, no doubt
But he also started learning MMA and jiu-jitsu…
Kickboxing was his main trade, no doubt
But he also started learning MMA and jiu-jitsu…
Izzy eventually made his way back to Auckland and went on an impressive run in pro kickboxing:
• 75-5 record
• 2016 GLORY Middleweight Contender Winner
• WKBF New Zealand Cruiserweight Champion
• WKBF New Zealand Light Heavyweight Champion
• 75-5 record
• 2016 GLORY Middleweight Contender Winner
• WKBF New Zealand Cruiserweight Champion
• WKBF New Zealand Light Heavyweight Champion
But during that time he also amassed a 9-0 MMA record and the UFC came calling in 2015
However, Izzy wanted more experience and added Australian Fighting Championship and Hex Fight Series middleweight titles to his resume in 2017
NOW it was time for the UFC
However, Izzy wanted more experience and added Australian Fighting Championship and Hex Fight Series middleweight titles to his resume in 2017
NOW it was time for the UFC
Adesanya signed a 4-fight deal and made his UFC debut against Rob Wilkinson at UFC 221 in Perth, Australia in 2018
He instantly made his mark with a second round TKO, earning a Performance of the Night Bonus
He instantly made his mark with a second round TKO, earning a Performance of the Night Bonus
After his debut, Adesanya began his meteoric UFC rise, earning hard-fought wins over Marvin Vettori and Brad Tavares (which earned him another POTN bonus)
But his real coming-out party came against Derek Brunson at UFC 230 with a 1st round TKO and yet another POTN bonus
And we can’t forget the memorable slugfest he put on with UFC middleweight legend Anderson Silva — which garnered Fight of the Night honors at UFC 234 in Melbourne
With all the momentum behind him, The Last Stylebender earned an interim title opportunity against Kelvin Gastelum
And well, let’s just say they put on a great show by having one of the best fights in UFC history
And well, let’s just say they put on a great show by having one of the best fights in UFC history
It was time to unify the titles and Robert Whittaker figured to be Adesanya’s biggest test
But he ended up making it look easy with a masterful 2nd-round knockout
The anime-loving kid who was bullied in high school finally became undisputed champion 👑
But he ended up making it look easy with a masterful 2nd-round knockout
The anime-loving kid who was bullied in high school finally became undisputed champion 👑
While his fight against Yoel Romero left fans with more to be desired, Adesanya quickly silenced the critics with a masterclass against Paulo Costa and…
a memorable celebration 😂
a memorable celebration 😂
Izzy then went up to 205 to achieve UFC champ-champ status against Jan Blachowicz
While he ultimately failed, the loss didn’t shake him
He got back to business as usual by cruising to a decision win in a rematch against Marvin Vettori
While he ultimately failed, the loss didn’t shake him
He got back to business as usual by cruising to a decision win in a rematch against Marvin Vettori
Now, a rematch with Robert Whittaker is in front of The Last Stylebender at #UFC271
And tomorrow, he’ll enter the octagon as one the highest-paid athletes in UFC history and a surefire future hall of famer
We’re witness to a legend in the making 🐐
And tomorrow, he’ll enter the octagon as one the highest-paid athletes in UFC history and a surefire future hall of famer
We’re witness to a legend in the making 🐐
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Sources
nzherald.co.nz/sport/mma-isra…
glorykickboxing.com/fighters/israe…
sportingnews.com/au/mma/news/uf…
amp.scmp.com/sport/martial-…
mediareferee.com/2021/06/30/ufc…
fansided.com/2019/02/08/why…
nzherald.co.nz/sport/mma-isra…
glorykickboxing.com/fighters/israe…
sportingnews.com/au/mma/news/uf…
amp.scmp.com/sport/martial-…
mediareferee.com/2021/06/30/ufc…
fansided.com/2019/02/08/why…
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