Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya born on the 22nd of July, 1989, is a Nigerian-born New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, and former kickboxer and boxer with multiple championships in all three disciplines.
As a mixed martial artist, he is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Middleweight Champion.
He is a former Glory Middleweight Championship title, challenger. As of October 25, 2021, he is #3 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Adesanya is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in mixed martial arts.
UFC Profile – From Debut to Current Title Run
Adesanya vs. Wilkinson
In December 2017, it was announced that Adesanya had signed a contract with the UFC.
He made his debut against Rob Wilkinson on 11 February 2018, at UFC 221.
He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.
This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.
Adesanya vs. Vettori
Adesanya’s next fight took place on 14 April 2018, against Marvin Vettori at UFC on Fox 29.
He won the match by split decision.
Adesanya vs. Tavares
Adesanya then faced Brad Tavares on 6 July 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale.
The Last Stylebender won the one-sided fight via unanimous decision.
This win earned him his second Performance of the Night award.
Adesanya vs. Brunson
Adesanya faced Derek Brunson on 3 November 2018, at UFC 230.
He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.
This win earned him the Performance of the Night award for the third time.
Adesanya vs. Silva
While initially expected to serve as the co-main event, Adesanya faced former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva on 10 February 2019, 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.
UFC Middleweight Championship
Adesanya vs. Gastelum
Adesanya faced Kelvin Gastelum for the interim UFC Middleweight Championship on 13 April 2019, in the co-main event of UFC 236.
He won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.
This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.
The fight was widely regarded as the best fight of the year, earning the nomination from most of the MMA news outlets.
Adesanya vs. Whittaker
Adesanya then faced Robert Whittaker in a title unification bout on 6 October 2019, headlining UFC 243 for UFC Middleweight Championship.
After a knockdown in the last second of the first round, Adesanya won the fight via knockout in the second round.
This win earned him his fourth Performance of the Night award.
Adesanya vs. Romero
Adesanya next faced three-time UFC title challenger Yoel Romero on March 7, 2020, at UFC 248.
He won the fight via unanimous decision, defending his title for the first time.
Adesanya vs. Costa
In his next title defense, Adesanya faced fellow undefeated fighter, Paulo Costa, on 27 September 2020 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.
This win earned him his fifth Performance of the Night award.
Adesanya vs. Blachowicz
Adesanya moved up a weight class and faced Jan Błachowicz for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on 6 March 2021, headlining the UFC 259.
At the weight-ins, Adesanya weighed 200 pounds, five pounds away from the light heavyweight limit.
He lost the fight via unanimous decision, defeated for the first time in mixed martial arts.
Adesanya vs. Vettori
Adesanya rematched Marvin Vettori for the UFC Middleweight Championship on June 12, 2021, headlining the UFC 263.
Israel Adesanya controlled a majority of the fight winning via unanimous decision.
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