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#2 Middleweight Division

#15 PFP

Active

"The Last Stylebender"

Israel Adesanya

Middleweight Division

24-4-0 (W-L-D)

16

Wins by Knockout

6

First Round Finishes

Israel Adesanya

athlete record

Info

Learn more about Israel Adesanya's UFC history, fighter facts, and Q&A below.

Status
Active
Place of Birth
Lagos, Nigeria
Trains at
City Kickboxing
Fighting style
Freestyle
Age
35
Height
76.00
Weight
184.00
Octagon Debut
Feb. 11, 2018
Reach
80.00
Leg reach
44.50
  • MMA pro since 2012
     
  • 16 of 24 wins by KO, six in the first round
     
  • Stopped UFC vets Song Kenan (2015) and Melvin Guillard (2017)
     
  • Had reported 75-4 (29 KOs) pro kickboxing record
     
  • Had 5-1 (1 KO) pro boxing record
     
  • Has won four of his last seven
     
  • Origin of nickname – “Coined from the TV show Avatar.”

UFC 305 (8/17/24) Adesanya was submitted by Dricus Du Plessis via rear-naked choke at 3:38 of the fourth round in a fight for the UFC middleweight title

UFC 293 (9/9/23) Adesanya lost a five round unanimous decision to Sean Strickland, losing his UFC middleweight title 

UFC 287 (4/8/23) Adesanya knocked out Alex Pereira at 4:21 of the second round, regaining his UFC middleweight title

UFC 281 (11/12/22) Adesanya was stopped by Alex Pereira via strikes at 2:01 of the fifth round, losing his UFC middleweight title 

UFC 276 (7/2/22) Adesanya won a five round unanimous decision over Jared Cannonier to retain his UFC middleweight title

UFC 271 (2/12/22) Adesanya won a five round unanimous decision over Robert Whittaker to retain his UFC middleweight title

UFC 263 (6/12/21) Adesanya won a five round unanimous decision over Marvin Vettori to retain his UFC middleweight title

UFC 259 (3/6/21) Adesanya lost a five round unanimous decision to Jan Blachowicz in a fight for the UFC light heavyweight title

UFC 253 (9/27/20) Adesanya stopped Paulo Costa via strikes at 3:59 of the second round to retain his UFC middleweight title

UFC 248 (3/7/20) Adesanya won a five round unanimous decision over Yoel Romero to retain his UFC middleweight title

UFC 243 (10/6/19) Adesanya knocked out Robert Whittaker at 3:33 of the second round to unify the UFC middleweight title and become undisputed champion

UFC 236 (4/13/19) Adesanya won a five round unanimous decision over Kelvin Gastelum to win the interim UFC middleweight title

UFC 234 (2/10/19) Adesanya won a three round unanimous decision over Anderson Silva

UFC 230 (11/3/18) Adesanya stopped Derek Brunson via strikes at 4:51 of the first round

TUF 27 Finale (7/6/18) Adesanya won a five round unanimous decision over Brad Tavares

UFC on FOX (4/14/18) Adesanya won a three round split decision over Marvin Vettori

UFC 221 (2/11/18) Adesanya stopped Rob Wilkinson via strikes at 3:37 of the second round

When and why did you start training for fighting? In 2008, because I needed skills to protect myself.

Training: 9am to 12pm then 6pm to 8pm, training all the various aspects and subtleties of MMA. 

What ranks and titles have you held? Two-time UFC middleweight champion, AFC world champ and Hex FC world champion.

Do you have any heroes? Avatar Aang and Naruto Uzumaki, the 7th Hokage of the hidden leaf village. Ethiopian political leader Robel Hailu.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It's one goal ticked off, but it's only the beginning.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Studied computer graphic design for three years, dropped out to pursue this life.

What was your job before you started fighting? Metering and billing coordinator for a gas line company (hated it).

Ranks in any martial arts styles: BJJ purple belt under Professor Andre Galvao.

Favorite grappling technique: I like choking people and whispering sweet nothings in their ear as they fall asleep.

Favorite Striking technique: Spinning s**t