Fighters » Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya, known as “The Last Stylebender,” is a Nigerian-New Zealand mixed martial artist and a former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion. He is renowned for his elite striking skills, which stem from an extensive kickboxing background.
Notable Fights
Adesanya has been involved in many high-profile bouts. The following are some of the most significant fights that defined his career.
- Winning the Undisputed Title vs. Robert Whittaker (UFC 243, Oct 2019): In a title unification bout, Adesanya knocked out the then-champion Robert Whittaker in the second round to become the undisputed UFC Middleweight Champion. This victory cemented his status as the top fighter in the division.
- The Classic vs. Kelvin Gastelum (UFC 236, Apr 2019): This fight for the interim middleweight title is widely regarded as one of the best fights in MMA history. Adesanya won by unanimous decision in a back-and-forth war that earned him the interim UFC Middleweight Championship and the Fight of the Night honor.
- A Passing of the Torch vs. Anderson Silva (UFC 234, Feb 2019): In a special encounter against his idol and UFC legend Anderson Silva, Adesanya won by unanimous decision. The fight was a striking chess match and was seen as a symbolic passing of the torch.
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A Historic Rivalry with Alex Pereira: Adesanya’s rivalry with Pereira is one of the most compelling stories in combat sports, spanning both kickboxing and MMA.
- Kickboxing: Pereira defeated Adesanya twice in kickboxing, once by decision and once by knockout.
- First UFC Loss (UFC 281, Nov 2022): Pereira captured the UFC middleweight title from Adesanya via a fifth-round TKO.
- Redemption (UFC 287, Apr 2023): In an immediate rematch, Adesanya reclaimed the title by knocking Pereira out in the second round.
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Recent Title Fights & Losses: Adesanya lost the title again in his next defense.
- Loss to Sean Strickland (UFC 293, Sep 2023): He lost the middleweight title by unanimous decision in an upset to Sean Strickland.
- Failed Bid to Reclaim Title vs. Dricus Du Plessis (UFC 305, Aug 2024): In his attempt to become a three-time champion, Adesanya lost to Du Plessis via submission in the fourth round.
- Latest Fight: Loss to Nassourdine Imavov (Feb 2025): Adesanya’s most recent bout was a main event fight against Nassourdine Imavov, which he lost by a second-round KO.
Background and Other Facts
- Early Life: Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Adesanya moved to Rotorua, New Zealand, at age 10. He began training in kickboxing at 18, inspired by the movie Ong-Bak.
- Kickboxing Pedigree: Before MMA, Adesanya had a highly successful kickboxing career with a professional record of 75 wins and 5 losses. He was a Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament winner and challenged for the Glory Middleweight Championship.
- Personality: He is a known fan of anime, and his nickname “The Last Stylebender” is a reference to the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. He is fluent in Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and English.
