There was a video doing the rounds shortly after Nigerian-born UFC Middleweight Champion, Israel Adesanya returned to his home country, New Zealand, after dramatically reclaiming the UFC Middleweight title from his kickboxing rival, Alex Pereira in UFC 287 in Miami, USA. The video, posted by the UFC fighter on his social media accounts revealed how ‘The Last Stylebender’ was hailed with a vigorous celebratory haka in the land of the Kiwis. In the clip, Adesanya drove into the centre of town in an orange McLaren, escorted by a pack of bikers. Then they stopped in the middle of the road and the locals performed the haka to celebrate him, thanks to his impressive accomplishment. As is often the case, the atmosphere was highly charged and moving, as the Starboy was treated to an electrifying performance by the haka dancers. Apparently at a loss for words, the combat fighter said after the performance, “I’ve never experienced anything like that before.”
To the cynic, the aforementioned video is no big deal and should be considered a distraction from more important subjects. But to the Kiwis and the lovers of haka around the world, the clip is gripping and the performance evokes great emotions.
The haka, a ceremonial dance in Māori culture is often performed by a group of people. Haka are staged, in many instances, with vigorous actions and stomping of the feet, protrusion of the tongue and rhythmic body slapping to accompany a loud chant. The tradition of the New Zealand sports’ teams of performing a haka to throw down the gauntlet to their opponents before international matches has made the dance form so popular globally. Haka have been traditionally performed by both men and women for a variety of social functions within Māori culture. They are performed to welcome distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements and occasions. Therefore, it is not surprising that the current and two-time UFC champion was greeted with a haka, following his return to his home city after overcoming Pereira in his last fight in April.
Israel Adesanya’s road to stardom was neither a cakewalk nor a stroll in the park. In contrast, it was that of firm determination and willpower. The fighter was born in Lagos, Nigeria, the eldest of five children. He attended Chrisland School, Opebi, and enrolled in its Taekwondo after-school club until he was removed by his mother due to an injury. At age 10, he was relocated to New Zealand by his family where he attended Rotorua Boys’ High School. His adventure into combat sports was a bit hilarious, considering the fact that he was never interested in sports during his high school years but took delight in Japanese anine such as “Death Note” and the manga series “Naruto”. Israel Adesanya was bullied during his high school years and attributes the mistreatment he experienced to his decision to pursue martial arts later in life.
Adesanya enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Computer Design at the Universal College of Learning in Whanganui after high school. The film “Ong-Bak” by Muay Thai inspired the young Adesanya to go into kickboxing. Adesanya later dropped out to concentrate on his career as a kickboxer barely 2 years in the college and went on to gather an amateur record of 32-0 before turning professional and fighting in China. At the age of 21, Adesanya moved to Auckland, New Zealand, and began training in mixed martial arts under Eugene Bareman at City Kickboxing.
As a professional kickboxer, Israel Adesanya won the first of his seven-fight winning streak, defeating Tim Atonio by unanimous decision. He won his next six fights too. Adesanya participated in the Heavyweights III and faced Jamie Eades in the final in 2015 after moving up the higher weight, winning the fight by unanimous decision.
He later lost to the future GLORY Middleweight Champion Alex Pereira.
His last kickboxing fight, before transitioning to mixed martial arts, was a rematch with same Pereira at Glory of Heroes 7. Pereira won the fight by knockout in the third round.
In his professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) career, James Griffiths was the first victim of his ruthlessness in 2012, he won by TKO. He scored another TKO win against John Vake, before taking a two-year break from MMA. After returning to MMA, He won his first fight against Song Kenan by TKO. He went on to set an 8–0 record, fighting mostly in Oceanian and Chinese circuits. he won the AFC Middleweight Championship at Australia Fighting Championship 20 with a first-round TKO over Melvin Guillard during this run, as well as the Hex Fight Series Middleweight championship with a first-round KO of Stuart Dare.
Adesanya then signed a contract with the UFC In December 2017. His first fight after this was 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.
Before his last fight against Pereira, Adesanya recorded several outstanding victories also.
His first loss at middleweight was his fight with Pereira who had two victories against him in kickboxing, on 12 November 2022 at UFC 281. He lost the fight and title via technical knockout in the fifth round.
On April 8, 2023, at UFC 287, the highly resilient Adesanya won the rematch fight against Pereira for the UFC Middleweight championship via knockout in the second round, this victory earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Without doubt, Adesanya has many personal attributes that endear him to lovers of combat sports around the world. One of these qualities is his never-say-die attitude. He keeps on fighting even when the situation is bloodied and scary. He is not the type that gives up when the dice are loaded against him in a bout. And because he does not weaken in his resolve to win every fight, Adesanya has been able to come from behind to win even his most difficult fights.
Like the greatest fighters in history, Adesanya has also suffered defeats in his career. But each time he had an opportunity to face his old rivals; he always came back better and stronger. For instance, Verlinden defeated Adesanya when they fought at Glory 15, but ‘The Last Stylebender’ overcame him in a rematch two years later at Glory of Heroes 3. His kickboxing foe, Pereira also had two victories against Adesanya in kickboxing, and one in MMA, but when they met last April for the UFC Middleweight Championship, Adesanya won via knockout.
Adesanya’s versatility as a combat fighter is also worth mentioning. He is a professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and former boxer with multiple championships in all three disciplines. As a mixed martial artist, he currently competes in the middleweight division in the UFC, where he is the current and two-time UFC Middleweight Champion. In kickboxing, he is a former Glory Middleweight Championship title challenger. In September 2020, Adesanya became the first mixed martial arts athlete to sign a sponsorship deal with Puma.
It was revealed at the UFC Vegas 73 press conference that the UFC will soon release an announcement regarding Adesanya’s opponent at the UFC 293. But the biggest looming fight in the middleweight division is the upcoming Robert Whittaker and Dricus Du Plessis taking place in July. The two fighters have obviously done enough for a title shot. Whoever wins the bout will no doubt be the next opponent of ‘The Last Stylebender’.
References:
‘Israel Adesanya given hero’s homecoming to Auckland with incredible haka dance’ (2023).
“Israel Adesanya was bullied as a child – now he’s a New Zealand fight sensation”. New Zealand Herald. February 2018.
Doherty, Dan (9 April 2023). “UFC 287: Israel Adesanya Gets Revenge, Knocks Out Alex Pereira”.
(Edited by Kehinde Fagbuaro)
Photo Credit: Marca
