Israel Mobolaji Odunayo Oluwafemi Temitayo Owolabi Adesanya popularly known as Israel Adesanya is a New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and former boxer
Israel Adesanya Early Life
Israel Mobolaji Odunayo Oluwafemi Temitayo Owolabi Adesanya was born on 22nd July 1989 in Lagos, Nigeria, the eldest of four siblings- Deborah Adesanya, Samuel Adesanya, David Adesanya, and Bolu Adesanya. His father, Oluwafemi, is an accountant and his mother, Taiwo, is a nurse.
In 1999, he relocated to Ghana with his family for 10 months, but due to his parents wanting their children to receive a well-recognized higher education, he settled in Rotorua, New Zealand, at age 10.
At the age of 18, he started training in kickboxing, after being inspired by the Muay Thai film Ong-Bak. At the age of 21, Adesanya moved to Auckland, New Zealand, and began training in mixed martial arts under Eugene Bareman at City Kickboxing.
Israel Adesanya Relationship
Israel is rumored to be dating Shana Evers, a 32-year-old Australian model.
Israel Adesanya Career
In 2012, Adesanya made his professional debut with a TKO win against James Griffiths. After taking a two-year hiatus from mixed martial arts. He returned to MMA in August 2015, when he won a fight against Song Kenan by TKO. During this run, he won the AFC Middleweight Championship as well as the Hex Fight Series Middleweight championship.
On 11th February 2018, he made his debut against Rob Wilkinson on 11 February 2018, at UFC 221. This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.
On 10th February 2019, he faced former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, in the main event of UFC 234. He won the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned both competitors the Fight of the Night award. On 13th April 2019, he faced Kelvin Gastelum for the interim UFC Middleweight Championship, in the co-main event of UFC 236.
On 6th October 2019, he faced Robert Whittaker in a title unification bout, headlining UFC 243 for UFC Middleweight Championship. Adesanya won the fight via knockout in the second round.
On 27th September 2020, Adesanya faced fellow undefeated fighter Paulo Costa at UFC 253. This marked the first time two male unbeaten mixed martial artists met in a title fight since 2009. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.
On 6 March 2021, Adesanya moved up a weight class and faced Jan Błachowicz for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, headlining UFC 259.
On 12th February 2022, a rematch between Adesanya and Robert Whittaker for the UFC Middleweight Championship took place at UFC 271. Adesanya won the rematch via unanimous decision.
On 12th November 2022, Adesanya fought his would-be sixth consecutive title defense against Alex Pereira, at UFC 281. Adesanya lost the fight and title via technical knockout in the fifth round, his first loss at middleweight.
Israel Adesanya Education
Israel attended Chrisland School, Opebi, and enrolled in its Taekwondo after-school club. For higher education, he attended Rotorua Boys’ High School. He enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Computer Design at the Universal College of Learning in Whanganui.
Israel Adesanya Net Worth
Israel has a net worth of $5 million.
Israel Adesanya’s Latest News
Israel Adesanya UFC Star Pleads Guilty to Drunk Driving Charge in New Zealand
Israel Adesanya Some Interesting Facts
- Israel is fluent in Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and English.
- He was interested in Japanese anime such as Death Note, and the manga series Naruto.
- Adesanya was frequently bullied while in high school, which informed his decision to take martial arts seriously later on in life.
- Before taking up fighting, Adesanya regularly competed in dance competitions across New Zealand.
Israel Adesanya Instagram
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Israel Adesanya Physical Stats
Height | 193 cm 6 ft 4 in |
Weight | 91 kg 201 lbs |
Reach | 80 in 203 cm |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Black |
Israel Adesanya Wiki/Bio
Name | Israel Adesanya |
Full Name | Israel Mobolaji Odunayo Oluwafemi Temitayo Owolabi Adesanya |
Nickname | The Last Stylebender |
Date of Birth | 22nd July 1989 |
Birthplace | Lagos, Nigeria |
Nationality | New Zealander Nigerian |
Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
Style | Kickboxing |
Profession | Mixed Martial Artist, Kickboxer, and Boxer |
Education | Chrisland School, The Bells Secondary School, Rotorua High School, and Universal College of Learning in Whanganui |
Parents |
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Siblings | Deborah Adesanya, Samuel Adesanya, David Adesanya, and Bolu Adesanya |
Israel Adesanya Records
Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date |
Win | 23-1 | Jared Cannonier | Decision(unanimous) | UFC 276 | 2/07/2022 |
Win | 22-1 | Robert Whittaker | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 271 | 12/02/2022 |
Win | 21-1 | Marvin Vettori | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 263 | 12/06/2021 |
Loss | 20-1 | Jan Blachowicz | Decision (unanimous | UFC 259 | 06/03/2021 |
Win | 20-0 | Paula Costa | TKO(punches and elbows) | UFC 253 | 27/09/2020 |
Win | 19-0 | Yoel Romero | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 248 | 07/03/2020 |
Win | 18-0 | Robert Whittaker | KO (punches) | UFC 243 | October 6, 2019 |
Win | 17-0 | Kelvin Gastelum | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 236 | April 13, 2019 |
Win | 16-0 | Anderson Silva | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 234 | February 10, 2019 |
Win | 15-0 | Derek Brunson | TKO (knees and punches) | UFC 230 | November 3, 2018 |
Win | 14-0 | Brad Tavares | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale | July 6, 2018 |
Win | 13-0 | Marvin Vettori | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Poirier vs Gaethje | April 14, 2018 |
Win | 12-0 | Rob Wilkinson | TKO (punches) | UFC 221 | February 11, 2018 |
Win | 11-0 | Stuart Dare | KO (head kick) | Hex Fighting Series 12 | November 24, 2017 |
Win | 10-0 | Melvin Guillard | TKO (punches) | Australia Fighting Championship 20 | July 28, 2017 |
Win | 9-0 | Murad Kuramagomedov | TKO (punches) | Wu Lin Feng: E.P.I.C. 4 | May 28, 2016 |
Win | 8-0 | Andrew Flores Smith | TKO (corner stoppage) | The glory of Heroes 2 | May 7, 2016 |
Win | 7-0 | Debir Zagirov | TKO (punches) | Wu Lin Feng: E.P.I.C. 2 | March 13, 2016 |
Win | 6-0 | Vladimir Katykhin | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Wu Lin Feng: E.P.I.C. 1 | January 13, 2016 |
Win | 5-0 | Gele Qing | TKO (elbows) | Wu Lin Feng 2015: New Zealand vs. China | September 19, 2015 |
Win | 4-0 | Maui Tuigamala | TKO (body kick) | Fair Pay Fighting 1 | September 5, 2015 |
Win | 3-0 | Song Kenan | TKO (punches) | The Legend of Emei 3 | August 8, 2015 |
Win | 2-0 | John Vake | TKO (punches) | Shuriken MMA: Best of the Best | June 15, 2013 |
Win | 1-0 | James Griffiths | TKO (punches) | Supremacy Fighting Championship 9 | March 24, 2012 |
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