Israel Adesanya is a name that has become synonymous with success and accomplishment in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA).
The current UFC middleweight champion, Adesanya moved to New Zealand at the age of 10 and has since become one of the country's most celebrated athletes.
In this article, we will delve deeper into Adesanya's biography, his net worth, and his incredible MMA career.
Israel Adesanya is a professional MMA fighter who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) born on July 22, 1989, in Lagos, Nigeria.
He spent most of his childhood in New Zealand with his four siblings under the care of his parents, Oluwafemi and Taiwo Adesanya. He is not currently married nor has any children.
Adesanya quickly became a rising star in MMA despite his lack of interest in sports growing up. It wasn't until he was in college that he discovered his passion for kickboxing, where he went on to win all 32 of his amateur matches before heading to China to become a professional fighter.
In the UFC middleweight division, he has since become one of the most dominant fighters in the UFC, known for his precision striking and impressive athleticism. His ability to read his opponents and find weaknesses in their defence, allows him to land devastating blows and win fights.
As of 2023, Israel Adesanya's net worth is estimated to be around $10 million. Adesanya has earned a significant amount of money from his MMA career, with his total fight career earnings currently standing at around $5.5 million.
Following his entry into the UFC, Israel Adesanya's career earnings skyrocketed with six-figure paychecks and a half-million dollar total in his first year of four fights. His win against Paulo Costa at UFC 253 earnt him a tidy $690,000 check.
His earnings reached a new peak when he faced Robert Whittaker at UFC 243, earning an impressive $1 million.
Over the past few years, Adesanya's salary has only continued to climb with million-dollar payouts for his fights against renowned fighters like Jan Blachowicz, Alex Pereira, and Marvin Vettori.
Israel Adesanya's impressive success in the UFC led to him achieving a place among the world's wealthiest MMA fighters. He is, in fact, the second-highest-paid UFC athlete, behind only Conor McGregor.
In addition to his professional fighting career, Israel Adesanya has also made a name for himself as a brand ambassador and influencer. He has worked with several high-profile companies, including Puma, and has his own clothing line, called "Stylebender."
Israel Adesanya's mixed martial arts career has been nothing short of remarkable.
In 2012, Israel Adesanya kicked off his MMA journey with a technical knockout win against James Griffiths, marking the beginning of his remarkable rise to success in the sport.
Adesanya made his UFC debut in November 2018 and quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with, kicking off his UFC career with style.
In just his second fight in the UFC, Israel Adesanya defeated former middleweight champion Anderson Silva in a thrilling bout that earned him widespread acclaim.
Adesanya went on to win the interim UFC middleweight championship in April 2019, defeating Kelvin Gastelum in a back-and-forth battle that was widely regarded as one of the best fights of the year.
Later that year, Adesanya became the undisputed middleweight champion, defeating Robert Whittaker in front of a record-breaking crowd in Melbourne, Australia to secure the UFC middleweight title and place himself firmly at the top of UFC's middleweight division.
Since then, Adesanya has successfully defended his middleweight title against the likes of Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori. His dominant performances in the octagon have earned him a legion of fans and cemented his status as one of the best fighters in the world.
Adesanya now has eyes on the UFC light heavyweight championship.
Israel Adesanya is a highly decorated fighter, having excelled in mixed martial arts, boxing, and kickboxing. His impressive list of awards includes the following:
Israel Adesanya has faced many formidable opponents throughout his career, but some of his most important fights include:
