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LowKick MMA

Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya News

Israel-Adesanya

DOB: July 22nd, 1989
Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria
Nickname: Stylebender
Gym: City Kickboxing
Style: Kickboxing
Weight Class: Middleweight
Championships: UFC Middleweight Championship

Stylebender finds martial arts

Israel Adesanya was the oldest of five siblings born in Lagos, Nigeria. His parents wanted him to have a better life, so they looked to relocate from Nigeria, when he was young.

They settled in Rotorua, New Zealand, when he was 10. Adesanya was really interested in anime and martial arts wanting to train and be like the characters in Naruto. Also since he was bullied for being an immigrant, Israel wanted to learn to defend himself. 

Stylebender first TaeKwondo as a kid, but got injured. He started training kickboxing when he was 18 being inspired by Tony Jaa in Ong-Bak. 

In 3 years, he earned an amateur kickboxing record of 32-0. When he was 21, he moved to Auckland and began training with City Kickboxing.

Stylebender’s kickboxing career

Before getting into MMA, Israel had quite a career competing in professional kickboxing. Accumulating a record of 75-5 in 8 years.

He primarily fought in China and New Zealand before becoming the first New Zealander to sign with Glory Kickboxing. 

In his kickboxing career, Stylebender won 4 different kickboxing tournaments with the last being the Glory middleweight tournament. Winning the middleweight championship in the final.

Israel would fight in 2 more kickboxing fights before he stopped competing in kickboxing and focused on MMA.

Israel Adesanya’s early MMA career

While Stylebender’s primary focus was kickboxing, he’d also sporadically compete in MMA. His first pro MMA fight was in 2012 and won by first round TKO.

Much like with his early kickboxing career, Israel Adesanya would fight primarily in New Zealand and China. Amassing a record of 11-0 from 2012-2017 with all KO/TKOs within the first 2 rounds.

Stylebender enters the UFC

With an impressive 11-0 MMA record and being a former Glory middleweight champion, Israel was welcomed into the UFC.

He made his promotional debut at UFC 221 in Perth, Australia. Stopping Rob Wilkinson with strikes in the 2nd round.

Israel would continue winning, beating his next two opponents in the prelims before fighting a top 5 opponent. His first real test came against top prospect Derek Brunson.

Adesanya used his superior striking to finish Brunson at the end of the 1st round.  Israel would then have a dream matchup facing his idol Anderson Silva next. Winning that fight by decision to put him in line for a title fight.

Interim title and unification bout

The then middleweight champion Robert Whitaker was on the shelf with an injury. So an interim title match was made putting Stylebender against Kelvin Gastelum.

They would have a fight of the year candidate match pushing each other to their limits. Israel dropped Kelvin a record 4 times in the fight before winning the decision and the interim title.

Six months later, he would have a unification bout with the division champion Robert Whitaker. Israel Adesanya would knock out the champion in the 2nd round to become the undisputed middleweight champion.

Stylebender’s title defenses

Israel’s first title defense came against feared fight Yoel Romero. Due to both men being counter fighters, there wasn’t as much action as expected in their match. Stylebender would win a decision to set up his next fight against Paulo Costo. 

There was a lot of hostility and personal attacks between the two leading up to the fight at UFC 253. Adesanya would dominante the Brazilian finishing Costa with strikes to defend the title and stay undefeated.

Whittaker Adesanya at UFC 243
UFC News

Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya To Be Moved To Las Vegas

The much-awaited title unification clash between Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya looks like it will no longer take place…

Read More Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya To Be Moved To Las VegasContinue

Whittaker Adesanya Gastelum
UFC News

Kelvin Gastelum Predicts Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya Fight

Kelvin Gastelum believes Israel Adesanya will emerge triumphant in his middleweight title unification clash with Robert Whittaker. Adesanya defeated…

Read More Kelvin Gastelum Predicts Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya FightContinue

Deron Winn
UFC News

Deron Winn: My Wrestling Would Have Caused Israel Adesanya Problems

UFC middleweight Deron Winn believes his wrestling would have caused more problems for Israel Adesanya than Kelvin Gastelum’s. Adesanya…

Read More Deron Winn: My Wrestling Would Have Caused Israel Adesanya ProblemsContinue

Michael Page
Bellator News

Michael Page Responds To Anderson Silva & Israel Adesanya Comparisons

Michael “Venom” Page is one of the more entertaining strikers the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) has to…

Read More Michael Page Responds To Anderson Silva & Israel Adesanya ComparisonsContinue

Israel Adesanya
UFC News

Israel Adesanya Trashes Yoel Romero For Never Making Weight

Newly-crowned interim UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is a sniper in the Octagon. He’s also an assassin on social…

Read More Israel Adesanya Trashes Yoel Romero For Never Making WeightContinue

Israel Adesanya Reacts To Fan Tattoo: ‘I Knew This Day Was Coming’
UFC News

Israel Adesanya Reacts To Fan Tattoo: ‘I Knew This Day Was Coming’

Interim UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has a distinct style in the Octagon and a recognizable face outside of…

Read More Israel Adesanya Reacts To Fan Tattoo: ‘I Knew This Day Was Coming’Continue

Israel Adesanya
UFC News

Middleweight Contender Confident He Can Stop Israel Adesanya

UFC middleweight contender Brad Tavares is confident he can stop interim UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. The two fighters…

Read More Middleweight Contender Confident He Can Stop Israel AdesanyaContinue

Conor McGregor injury
UFC News

Conor McGregor Challenges Israel Adesanya’s Record-Setting Performance At UFC 236

MMA’s biggest star Conor McGregor is sick and tired of the UFC crediting fighters with erroneous record-setting performances, or…

Read More Conor McGregor Challenges Israel Adesanya’s Record-Setting Performance At UFC 236Continue

Jon Jones
UFC News

Anderson Silva: Israel Adesanya Crossed The Line Against Jon Jones

A highly-publicized beef has been brewing between current interim UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and light heavyweight king Jon…

Read More Anderson Silva: Israel Adesanya Crossed The Line Against Jon JonesContinue

Yoel Romero Calls Out Israel Adesanya Amid Jon Jones Beef
UFC News

Yoel Romero Calls Out Israel Adesanya Amid Jon Jones Beef

Israel Adesanya has solidified himself atop the UFC middleweight mountain. The newly-crowned interim champion outlasted Kelvin Gastelum in a…

Read More Yoel Romero Calls Out Israel Adesanya Amid Jon Jones BeefContinue

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