Israel Adesanya (UFC) Wiki, Height, Weight, Age, Wife, Family, Biography & More

 

Israel Adesanya is a Nigeria-born New Zealander mixed martial artist known for fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the middleweight category. Adesanya is well-renowned for his striking and unorthodox fighting style, blending elements from various combat forms like Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, and Boxing, which gave him the nickname “The Style Bender” which was an inspiration by a show, Avatar: The Last Airbender. This unique approach to MMA has led him to win numerous fights in the UFC, mostly by knockout. He holds the impressive title of two-time UFC Middleweight Champion. In his past kickboxing career, he once challenged for the Glory Middleweight Championship title. In 2023, he was placed at number five in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound list.

Wiki/Biography

Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya was born on Saturday, 22 July 1989 (age 34 years; as of 2023) in Lagos, Nigeria. His zodiac sign is Cancer. Israel Adesanya initially attended Chrisland School, Opebi, where he was briefly involved in the school’s Taekwondo club. His mother, however, removed him from the club following an injury. In 1999, his family moved to Ghana for a brief period of 10 months. Prioritizing their children’s education, his parents decided to move again, this time settling in Rotorua, New Zealand when Adesanya was 10 years old. Here, Adesanya went to Rotorua Boys’ High School in New Zealand. During his high school years, Adesanya didn’t show a keen interest in sports but rather found his interest in Japanese anime, including shows like Death Note and Naruto. His high school years were full of bullying. This experience became a significant factor in his decision to take up martial arts. He said that he believes in the quote,

Pressure Makes Diamonds and I am Going to Shine”

After high school, Adesanya pursued a Bachelor of Science in Computer Design at the Universal College of Learning in Whanganui. It was during this period, at the age of 18, that Adesanya began his kickboxing training, inspired by the Muay Thai film, Ong-Bak. Just two years into his college studies, he chose to halt his education to fully commit to a kickboxing career. His dedication led to a remarkable amateur record of 32–0 before turning professional and moving to China from New Zealand to continue his combat sports career. At the age of 21, Adesanya relocated to Auckland, New Zealand. There, he started mixed martial arts training under Eugene Bareman at City Kickboxing alongside future UFC fighters like Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France alongside future UFC fighters like Dan Hooker, and the former UFC Featherweight Champion, Alexander Volkanovski.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 6′ 4″

Weight (approx.): 84 kg

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Body Measurements (approx.): Chest: 42″, Waist: 30″, Biceps: 14″

Family

He was born into a Christian Nigerian Family in Lagos.

Parents & Siblings

Israel’s father, Femi Adesanya, is an accountant, and his mother, Taiwo Adesanya, works as a nurse.

Israel Adesanya is the eldest of five children, having four younger siblings. His younger brothers’ names are David Adesanya and Sammy Adesanya, and his younger sisters are Deborah Adesanya and Bolu Adesanya.

Wife & Children

Israel Adesanya is not married.

Relationships/Affairs

In 2019, Israel Adesanya had an affair with Charlotte Powdrell. She is a real estate agent and also a nurse. People found out about her relationship with Israel Adesanya when a video of them in a bathtub was posted online. This happened before Adesanya’s 2020 fight with Paulo Costa in Abu Dhabi. Charlotte was also seen at one of Israel’s fights in Houston, United States, in 2019.

In 2021, it was rumoured that Yanet Garcia was in a relationship with Israel Adesanya. She is a multi-talented personality hailing from Monterrey, Mexico. She is well-known for her roles as a TV host, actress, and her credentials as a certified health coach. She has also been dubbed as the “world’s sexiest weather girl” in media reports. It was reported that they were together for a few months.

After ending his affair with Yanet Garcia, Israel began dating Shana Evers, who is an Australian model and an entrepreneur. Reports suggest that they have been together since September 2021, but neither Adesanya nor Evers have publicly discussed the specifics of their relationship. Following Adesanya’s victory over Alexa Pereira at UFC 287 in April 2023, Evers celebrated his win on her Instagram story. She posted a photo of Adesanya playfully imitating Pereira’s pre-fight bow and arrow routine.

Signature/Autograph

Religion/Religious Views

He was born into a Christian family in Nigeria. He has mixed opinions on religion and usually considers the existence of Jesus. In one of his interviews, he said to one of his fans,

Born into a Christian household, but had an idea for a while to visit other religions to just catch a vibe and learn something from a different or the same perspective. I don’t practice any religion or follow any code but my own. I have the emotional capacity to appreciate the artistry and many other things from different religions, cultures, cliques, etc”

Career

Professional Kickboxing

Early Career

In May 2010, Israel Adesanya defeated Tim Antonio through a unanimous decision and began a seven-fight winning streak by defeating 6 other fighters. The majority of his subsequent fights took place in China, predominantly with Wu Lin Feng. This successful streak led to his participation in the 2014 Kunlun Fight in the 80 kg tournament bracket during Kunlun Fight 2Q, where he lost the semifinal round against Simon Marcus in an extra round split decision.

Adesanya made his Glory debut at Glory 15, where he squared off against Filip Verlinden. Verlinden emerged victorious in this bout through a unanimous decision. A rematch occurred two years later at Glory of Heroes 3, with Adesanya winning by a unanimous decision.

Adesanya also competed in the regional circuit in New Zealand, participating in the King in the Ring Cruiserweights II tournament. He won the quarterfinal against Slava Alexeichik and the semifinal against Pati Afoa, both by unanimous decisions. Adesanya secured the tournament victory with a knockout of Jamie Eades. He repeated this success in the 2015 Cruiserweights III tournament, scoring technical knockouts in the quarterfinal and semifinal bouts before claiming the tournament title for the second time with a first-round knockout of Pati Afoa.

Adesanya later moved up to the heavyweight category to participate in the 2015 Heavyweights III tournament. He claimed victories over Nase Foai and Dan Roberts in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, respectively, before facing Jamie Eades in the finals. Adesanya triumphed in the tournament’s final through a unanimous decision.

Middle Weight Championship

Later on, Adesanya won five out of his subsequent six fights, earning victories over formidable opponents such as Yousri Belgaroui and Bogdan Stoica. His single defeat came at the hands of the former Glory Middleweight champion, Alex Pereira, who emerged victorious by unanimous decision. In 2016, Adesanya took part in the Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament. In the semifinals, he triumphed over Robert Thomas through a unanimous decision and clinched the tournament victory with a split decision win over Yousri Belgaroui. Adesanya later challenged Jason Wilnis for the Glory Middleweight championship at Glory 37: Los Angeles, a fight that Wilnis won via unanimous decision. This outcome was met with controversy.

Adesanya’s final kickboxing bout, prior to his transition to mixed martial arts, was a rematch with Alex Pereira at Glory of Heroes 7. Pereira won this fight by knockout in the third round with a short left hook that floored Israel.

Professional Mixed Martial Arts

Early Career

Israel Adesanya started his professional career in mixed martial arts in 2012, marking his debut with a Technical Knockout (TKO) victory over James Griffiths. He followed up with another TKO win against John Vake, after which he took a break from MMA for two years. Adesanya made his comeback in August 2015, defeating Song Kenan via TKO. Following his return, Adesanya demonstrated his impressive performance, achieving an 8–0 record while competing in Oceanian and Chinese tournaments. During this successful streak, he claimed the AFC Middleweight Championship at Australia Fighting Championship 20 by delivering a first-round TKO to Melvin Guillard. He also won the Hex Fight Series Middleweight championship with a first-round knockout of Stuart Dare.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

In December 2017, Israel Adesanya was announced to have signed a contract with the UFC. He made a successful debut against Rob Wilkinson at UFC 221 on February 11, 2018, winning the fight via a second-round technical knockout. This victory also earned him the Performance of the Night bonus. After his major victory, he said,

It’s about legacy, it’s about moments, it’s about being an icon – I’ll do what I do and the money will flow.”

 

Adesanya’s next fight took place on 14 April 2018, against Marvin Vettori at UFC, which was aired on Fox 29.

On 6 July 2018, Adesanya faced Brad Tavares at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale. Dominating the fight, Adesanya won by a unanimous decision. His commanding performance in this fight brought him his second Performance of the Night bonus award.

Adesanya next faced Derek Brunson at UFC 230 on 3 November 2018. He ended the fight with a technical knockout in the first round, earning him the Performance of the Night bonus award for the third time.

Originally considered as the co-main event, Adesanya ended up facing former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva in the main event of UFC 234 on 10 February 2019. Adesanya won the fight by unanimous decision. Both fighters were awarded the Fight of the Night bonus award for their impressive performance.

 

Middle Weight Championship

On 13 April 2019, Israel Adesanya faced Kelvin Gastelum for the interim UFC Middleweight Championship in the co-main event of UFC 236. Adesanya secured a victory in this closely contested fight through a unanimous decision, with all judges scoring the fight 48-46 in his favour. The fight was lauded as one of the best of the year by several MMA news outlets and earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Adesanya’s next fight was a title unification bout against Robert Whittaker on 6 October 2019 at UFC 243 for the UFC Middleweight Championship. Following a knockdown at the end of the first round, Adesanya won the fight with a second-round knockout. This victory earned him his fourth Performance of the Night bonus award. This achievement, along with Kamaru Usman’s championship win, was listed as the 29th most memorable moment in Nigerian sports history since 1960 by Premium Times in 2020.

Adesanya’s first title defence was against three-time UFC title challenger Yoel Romero at UFC 248 on 7 March 2020. Adesanya retained his title, winning via unanimous decision with scores of 48–47, 48–47, and 49–46. The fight was largely uneventful, with fans and pundits expressing disappointment over the lack of significant offence from both fighters.

In his next title defence, Adesanya faced the then-undefeated fighter Paulo Costa on 27 September 2020 at UFC 253. This fight marked the first time since 2009 that two undefeated male mixed martial artists had competed in a title fight. Adesanya won via a second-round technical knockout, earning him his fifth Performance of the Night bonus award. Post-fight, there was controversy surrounding visible gynecomastia on Adesanya’s right breast, with speculation around potential performance-enhancing drug use. However, Adesanya attributed the condition to his marijuana use. Further controversy was stirred by Adesanya’s post-fight behaviour, which included a simulation of a sexual act on Costa.

On 6 March 2021, Israel Adesanya stepped up a weight class to challenge Jan Błachowicz for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 259. Adesanya weighed in at 200 pounds for the fight, 5 pounds below the light heavyweight limit. He suffered his first defeat in mixed martial arts, losing the fight via unanimous decision, with scores of 49–46, 49–45, and 49–45.

Adesanya then went on to contest against Marvin Vettori for the UFC Middleweight Championship on 12 June 2021 at UFC 263. Adesanya managed to control the majority of the fight, winning via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 50–45 in his favour.

He faced Robert Whittaker once again for the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 271 on 12 February 2022. Adesanya won the rematch through a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 48–47, 48–47, and 49–46.

Adesanya’s bout was against Jared Cannonier at UFC 276 on 2 July 2022. He emerged victorious via unanimous decision. This win also earned him the Crypto.com Fan Bonus of the Night first-place award, amounting to US$30,000 paid in Bitcoin.

On November 12, 2022, at UFC 281, Israel Adesanya faced Alex Pereira, who previously defeated him twice in kickboxing matches. Adesanya experienced his first loss at middleweight during this fight, losing the title to Pereira via a technical knockout in the fifth round. Later on, a rematch between Pereira and Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship occurred on 8 April 2023, at UFC 287. This time, Adesanya won and, reclaimed the title with a second-round knockout. This remarkable victory earned Adesanya the Performance of the Night bonus award.

Professional Boxing Career

Prizefighting Tournaments

In November 2014, Israel Adesanya started his professional boxing career, competing against two-time Australian Cruiserweight champion Daniel Ammann in the inaugural Cruiserweight Super 8 Boxing Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. Despite appearing to have the upper hand, Adesanya lost to Ammann by a unanimous decision which resulted in a controversy.

Adesanya returned to the Super 8 tournament in May 2015, which took place in Christchurch, with the winner set to receive $25,000 NZD and a new car. He secured his first professional boxing victory against New Zealander, Asher Derbyshire, delivering a knockout in the second round. Adesanya then won a majority decision against Lance Bryant and clinched the tournament victory by defeating Brian Minto through a split decision.

In the 2015 Super 8 Cruiserweight tournament, Adesanya progressed to the final, defeating Zane Hopman with a unanimous decision. He then successfully defended his cruiserweight title, once again facing and beating Lance Bryant with a unanimous decision in the championship match.

Signature Moves

Israel Adesanya is a big fan of Rock Lee from the anime series “Naruto.” Adopting a signature pose inspired by the character, he often assumes this stance to challenge his opponents, making it a signature pose during his fights.

One of Israel Adesanya’s signature moves involves him mimicking the action of loading a shotgun with one of his arms. After this “loading” gesture, he raises the arm into the air symbolizing his readiness and confidence before fighting his opponent.

Another notable signature move of his involves mimicking the act of firing large weapons.

Adesanya often merges his passion for combat with his love for popular culture. In one of his signature moves, he pretends to write his opponent’s name in an imaginary “Death Note”, a reference to the popular anime and manga series where names written in the notebook lead to that person’s death.

Controversies

Adesanya’s Apology for Insensitive Remarks at UFC 248 Press Conference

In February 2020, during the UFC 248 pre-fight press conference, Israel Adesanya faced significant criticism for remarks made about his opponent, Yoel Romero. Adesanya mentioned he would make Romero “crumble like the Twin Towers”, an inappropriate reference to the tragic events of September 11. Adesanya took to his Instagram the next day to address the situation, stating,

I was simply rambling and my brain worked faster than my mouth in a moment to choose the wrong euphemism. You speak on the mic enough times and you’re bound to miss the mark with some bars. I did on this one and for that I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful in future with my words.” [1]

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Addresses Adesanya’s Controversial Comment

On 25 March 2021, New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Sport, Grant Robertson, addressed a controversial remark made by Israel Adesanya on his Instagram. Adesanya had directed a comment, “Bro, I will f***in’ rape you,” at fellow UFC middleweight fighter, Kevin Holland. Robertson stated, “I’m sure Israel understands that, I believe he has deleted the tweet in question. It will be up to the UFC as to what they do. But I would certainly be making clear to him [Adesanya], and to anybody actually, that we have to take rape seriously. It’s not an issue that anyone should be making jokes or flippant comments about at all.” [2]

Adesanya’s Arrest at John F. Kennedy International Airport

On 16 November 2022, Israel Adesanya faced legal challenges when he was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City for having brass knuckles in his possession. [3]

Controversy Surrounding Adesanya and Du Plessis’ Rivalry on African Identity

The animosity between Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis shows no signs of abating. The discord ignited when Du Plessis challenged the authenticity of Adesanya’s African identity, suggesting that the middleweight champion was not a “true African”. Adesanya, who holds deep reverence for his heritage, was profoundly affronted by such claims. This instigated a sustained verbal altercation between the two fighters. The ongoing dispute has captivated the MMA community, with many anticipating a showdown in the UFC Octagon as the ultimate resolution.

Adesanya made serious accusations against Dricus du Plessis and said,

Now he doesn’t wanna fight. Even after [UFC 290], he’s like, ‘Oh, bro, all you had to do was put some gloves on, we could have got it on right there.’ B***a* F**k. You wouldn’t have. ‘Cause guess what? He didn’t want it” [4]

Adesanya’s Financial Dispute: Ex-Girlfriend Claims Share of UFC Champion’s Net Worth

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, is at the centre of a brewing controversy as his ex-girlfriend, reportedly named Charlotte Powdrell, demands half of his net worth. Despite never marrying, the couple had a long-standing relationship, during which she claims to have supported him in his ascent to become the UFC Champion. While the intricacies of their financial entanglements remain undisclosed, this legal move has sparked debates regarding entitlement and fairness in such circumstances. [5]

Adesanya’s Physique Sparks Controversy Post UFC 253

Following his commendable performance against Paulo Costa at UFC 253, Israel Adesanya faced unexpected controversy. The focus wasn’t on his fighting skills but on the noticeable gynecomastia on his chest. This condition is often linked to someone coming off a steroid cycle, leading to heightened estrogen production. Though the controversy eventually faded, Adesanya clarified that the chest abnormality was a result of his marijuana use. [6]

Adesanya Defends Joe Rogan Amidst Controversy and Criticism

Israel Adesanya has defended Joe Rogan against critics who accuse him of spreading COVID-19 misinformation and using offensive language on his podcast. Amidst calls for Spotify to sever ties with Rogan, Adesanya supported him during the UFC 271 pre-fight press conference. Additionally, during an appearance on Flagrant 2, Adesanya suggested that influential entities might be attempting to control Rogan, a prominent podcast host and comedian. Adesanya said,

I love that dude. Look, we know what’s going on, that’s why I said f**k the noise. Don’t focus on what they want you to focus on. Focus on why they’re doing, what they’re doing now… It’s like why now? I’m not saying think like me, but just use your brain. Yeah, he was wrong. He shouldn’t have said that. But he said, ‘I’m sorry.’ That was the most sincere. What more do you want? He’s got the biggest platform right now on earth and he’s not able to be controlled. So the powers are going to try and find something from his past… It’s a systematic way of trying to take power away from someone else.” [7]

Titles/Awards/Achievements

Boxing

Super 8 Boxing Tournament

• Super 8 III Cruiserweight Champion

• Super 8 IV Cruiserweight Champion
  

  Adesanya’s 2015 Title Belt

Kickboxing

King in the Ring

• King in the Ring 86 kg II Champion

• King in the Ring 86 kg III Champion

• King in the Ring 100kgs II Champion
  

  Adesanya’s kickboxing titles

Glory

• 2016 Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament Winner
  

  Glory Middleweight Title

Combat Press

• 2017 Fight of the Year (vs. Alex Pereira)

Mixed Martial Arts

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC Middleweight Championship

• Five successful Title Defenses
  

  UFC Middleweight Title 2019

  

  UFC Middleweight Championship 2023

Interim UFC Middleweight Championship

• Most knockdowns in a UFC title fight vs Kelvin Gastelum

• Second Most title fight wins in UFC Middleweight division history

• Second most knockdowns in UFC title fights

• Performance of the Night (Six times) vs. Rob Wilkinson, Brad Tavares, Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa and Alex Pereira

• Tied (Francis Ngannou, Anthony Smith & Kevin Holland) for sixth-most Performance of the Night bonuses in UFC history

• Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Anderson Silva and Kelvin Gastelum

• Tied (Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker) for second-most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC Middleweight division history

• Tied (Anderson Silva) for most knockdowns in UFC Middleweight division history

• Second Longest winning streak in UFC Middleweight division history

• Longest average fight time in UFC Middleweight division history

• Third most significant strikes landed in UFC Middleweight division history

Australian Fighting Championship

• AFC Middleweight Champion (one time)
  

  Adesanya with World Champion Title

• Hex Fighting Series Middleweight
  

  2 Time MIddleweight champion- Israel Adesanya

• Hex Fighting Series Middleweight Champion (one time)

MMAJunkie.com

• 2018 Newcomer of the Year

• 2019 April Fight of the Month vs. Kelvin Gastelum

• 2019 Fight of the Year vs. Kelvin Gastelum

• 2019 Male Fighter of the Year

• 2023 April Knockout of the Month vs. Alex Pereira

MMA Fighting

• 2018 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

• 2019 Fight of the Year vs. Kelvin Gastelum

• 2019 Fighter of the Year

CombatPress.com

• 2018 Breakout Fighter of the Year

• 2019 Male Fighter of the Year

• 2019 Fight of the Year vs. Kelvin Gastelum

CagesidePress.com

• 2019 Fighter of the Year

• 2019 Fight of the Year vs. Kelvin Gastelum

MMADNA.nl

• 2018 Rising Star of the Year

• The Body Lock

• 2019 Fighter of the Year

• World MMA Awards

• 2018 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year

• 2019 – July 2020 Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year

• 2019 – July 2020 International Fighter of the Year

• 2021 International Fighter of the Year

MMAMania.com

• 2019 Fighter of the Year

• 2019 Fight of the Year vs. Kelvin Gastelum

Halberg Awards

• 2019 New Zealand Sportsman of the Year

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year (2019, 2020)

• MMA Match of the Year (vs. Kelvin Gastelum, 2019)

Car Collection

• Mclaren 720s Spider
  

  Adesanya with his Mclaren 720s Spider

• Land Rover Range Rover
  

  Adesanya’s Range Rover car

• Nissan SUV

• Rolls-Royce Cullinan
  

  Israel with his Rolls-Royce car

• Bentley Continental GT
  

  Adesanya’s Bentley Car

• Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT
  

  Adesanya’s Porsche Cayenne GT

• Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
  

  Adesanya’s blue Porsche car

Tattoos

At the age of 22, Israel Adesanya got a tattoo but likes to keep it a secret. Afterwards, on the upper portion of his chest, he got a tattoo that reads “BROKEN NATIVE” in capital letters. This tattoo serves as a reminder of his past and his evolving identity. He also has a tattoo on the centre of his chest depicting the African continent, with Lagos, Nigeria, distinctly highlighted within its outline which he got done at the same time. This inked representation signifies Adesanya’s place of birth and his connection to his roots.

On April 5, 2017, Israel Adesanya had a tattoo inked on his stomach of his favourite TV shows, the characters from Naruto and Avatar. The character is Toph Beifong from the Avatar series. On November 26, 2016, he got a werewolf tattoo inked on the inner side of his right arm.

It’s the ocean and moon spirit from Avatar and the nine-tail seal from Naruto”

On the left side of Israel Adesanya’s ribcage, there is a tattoo of Deadpool.

On Adesanya’s right bicep is a tattoo inspired by the characters, Calvin and Hobbes.

He has a tattoo of his pet dog, Millionaire (Milli) on his neck and an image of a Hawk as well.

He has recently got a Japanese-themed dragon tattoo on his back, and the word “Dragon” is written above his right eye in Arabic.

Salary/Income

The Base Salary is the contracted amount Adesanya receives for participating in the fight, regardless of the outcome and it usually stays around $690,000 per fight since 2020. He has reportedly earned over $1 million in each of his past five fights. From his match with Alex Pereira, he received a total of $2.6 million: $2 million as a base salary, $600,000 from pay-per-view sales, and $42,000 in sponsorships. He has won a total of approximately $1.34 million from his winnings at the UFC on average.

Favourites

• Food: Suya

• Anime: Naruto

• Anime character: Rock Lee

• Film: Ong-Bak

• Fighter: Bruce Lee

• Boxer: Muhammad Ali

• Marvel Character: Black Panther

• Singer/Rapper: Eminem

Facts/Trivia

• Israel Adesanya is not only skilled in martial arts but is also a proficient dancer, having participated in various dance competitions. He also shows his dance moves in the ring after winning a fight. He said,

I think dancing and fighting have a lot of correlation with their timing, distance, creativity, and other attributes. So for me being a dancer, even with krump, its a very unorthodox style of dance that requires a lot of energy. When you’re a teenager dancing a hundred rounds a night, 20 rounds in a weekend, it builds your cardio base up. There’s a quote I read once that said, ‘never give a sword to a man who can’t dance’ and I can dance.”

• He often dances and does flips in the ring before and after his fights, showing his talent for acrobatics and his flexibility.

• Adesanya has been open about his consumption of drinks and has made references to smoking in the past.
  

  Israel Adesanya having drinks with Jason Momoa

• Israel Adesanya has collaborated with various brands, including MyPro, a sports supplement brand.
  

  Adesanya’s collab with MyPro Supplements

• He has a pet dog, an American Staffordshire Terrier, named Millionaire, whom he loves to make videos with and calls Milli. He also has a Rottweiler and a Persian cat.
  

  Adesanya with his pet dog

  

  All pets of Adesanya

• Adesanya has his own YouTube channel which has over 1 million subscribers as of August 2023. He often makes reaction videos and shorts with different celebrities and his close friends. His channel goes by the name FREESTYLEBENDER.
  

  Israel Adesanya’s YouTube page

• Based on his favourite anime, Naruto, he named his McLaren Spider Car Kurama.
  

  Adesanya’s car- Kurama

• In the game, UFC 4, released in 2020, Israel Adesanya is a playable character and people can play as him in the combat-based game.
  

  Israel Adesanya in UFC 4

• Adesanya usually spends a lot of money on luxurious trips, especially to his hometown in Nigeria and to Dubai. He once said that he has spent over $150,000,000 on the trips. He spent his first Million on jewellery and tattoo costing him over $60,000.

• Israel Adesanya has secured esteemed sponsorship agreements throughout his career. Notably, he is the first MMA athlete to forge a partnership with the renowned sportswear brand, PUMA, representing the face of the brand for the Oceania region.
  

  Adesanya in collaboration with Puma

• Before becoming a renowned mixed martial artist, Adesanya worked in a leather tannery, a job he regards as one of the most challenging he’s ever had.

• Throughout his career till 2023, he has only been knocked down once in a fight with Alex Pereira in 2017 in a kickboxing rematch.

• He knows multiple languages and is fluent in Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and English.

• In June 2021, following the tragic death of his training partner Fau Vake due to a punch to the head, Israel Adesanya called for stricter penalties against coward punching.

• Israel Adesanya supported a “yes” vote during the 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum.

• He likes to swim and enjoys surfing in his free time.
  

  Adesanya going surfing at the beach

  

  Adesanya in a pool

• He has been part of Fashion Week and has also done ramp walks.
  

  Adesanya in Fashion Week

• Adesanya is reported to own two properties, one situated in his native country, Nigeria, and another in New Zealand, where he has spent a significant portion of his professional career. Adesanya’s residence is a luxurious and comfortable place. The house has its own home cinema valued at $20,000. In addition to this, the property comprises 4 to 5 bedrooms. He told in an interview that he spent $800,000,000 on buying his first home after winning his first million in his career. He also has numerous properties and apartments in Whanganui Liverpool Street.

• In 2023, a documentary on MMA star Israel Adesanya will be released, highlighting his journey from his initial UFC title win in 2019 onwards. The film, previewed at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, will be released on 28 September 2023 in theatres. He made a post for fans stating,
  

  The Main Character. #Player1 🎮🍿 Even if I wasn’t the protagonist, I’d implore everybody to see this film (especially men). We can’t keep living like this, fake masculinity and lack of emotional intelligence…let me show you brothers a true way of being, love and care for yourself. Always love 💕”

  

  Israel Adesanya’s Upcoming Documentary