1. Early Life and Background
Israel Adesanya's formative years were shaped by his family's relocation and his early encounters with martial arts.
1.1. Childhood and Education
Adesanya was born in Lagos, Nigeria, the eldest of five children to his father, Oluwafemi, an accountant, and his mother, Taiwo, a nurse. He belongs to the Yoruba ethnic group. As a child, Adesanya was described as unruly. At the age of eight, he began training in Taekwondo through an after-school club at Chrisland School, Opebi, but his mother eventually withdrew him due to an injury and his tendency to be destructive at home, constantly kicking objects around the house.
During his high school years at Rotorua Boys' High School in New Zealand, Adesanya faced bullying, which he later cited as a significant influence on his decision to pursue martial arts. Despite his future in combat sports, he was not initially interested in sports during high school, preferring Japanese anime such as Death Note and the manga series Naruto. His first exposure to fighting, and an early influence, was watching the British boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, whose showmanship mesmerized him. After graduating from high school, Adesanya enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Computer Design at the Universal College of Learning in Whanganui, but he ceased his studies two years later to focus on a kickboxing career.
1.2. Early Martial Arts Training
Adesanya began his kickboxing training at the age of 18, inspired by the Muay Thai film Ong-Bak. He amassed an amateur kickboxing record of 32 wins and 1 loss before turning professional. At 21, he moved to Auckland, New Zealand, and started training in mixed martial arts under Eugene Bareman at City Kickboxing. There, he trained alongside future UFC fighters such as Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France, and former UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski. He also developed his wrestling skills under the guidance of Romanian New Zealander Andrei Păuleț.
1.3. Relocation to New Zealand
In 1999, Adesanya and his family relocated from Nigeria to Ghana, where they lived for 10 months. Driven by his parents' desire for their children to receive a recognized higher education, the family then settled in Rotorua, New Zealand, when Adesanya was 10 years old.
2. Combat Sports Career
Israel Adesanya has built a distinguished professional career across three combat sports: kickboxing, boxing, and mixed martial arts, achieving notable success in each discipline.
2.1. Professional Kickboxing
Adesanya's professional kickboxing career saw him achieve significant success, particularly in regional tournaments, and compete on major stages like Glory and Kunlun Fight.
2.1.1. Early Career and Tournaments
Adesanya began his professional kickboxing career in 2011, establishing a long winning streak in New Zealand and Australia, along with numerous bouts in China, particularly with Wu Lin Feng. This streak earned him a spot in the 2014 Kunlun Fight 80 kg tournament at Kunlun Fight 2, where he lost to Simon Marcus by an extra-round split decision in the semi-final.
He made his debut in Glory at Glory 15, facing Filip Verlinden, a fight he lost by unanimous decision. Two years later, at Glory of Heroes 3, Adesanya defeated Verlinden in a rematch by unanimous decision.
Adesanya actively participated in the regional King in the Ring tournaments in New Zealand.
- In the 2014 King in the Ring Cruiserweights II tournament (86 kg), he defeated Slava Alexeichik by unanimous decision in the quarterfinal, Pati Afoa by knockout in the semifinal, and won the tournament by knocking out Jamie Eades in the final.
- Six months later, in the 2015 King in the Ring Cruiserweights III tournament (86 kg), he secured technical knockout victories over Kim Loudon and Mark Timms in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively, before winning his second tournament title with a first-round knockout of Pati Afoa.
- Moving up in weight, Adesanya also competed in the 2015 King in the Ring Heavyweights III tournament (100 kg). He won by TKO against Nase Foai in the quarterfinal and by knockout against Dan Roberts in the semifinal. He then faced Jamie Eades again in the final, winning by unanimous decision to claim the heavyweight crown.
2.1.2. Glory Middleweight Championship Challenge
Following his early successes, Adesanya won five of his next six fights, including victories over Yousri Belgaroui and Bogdan Stoica. His only loss during this period came against future Glory Middleweight Champion Alex Pereira, who won by unanimous decision.
Adesanya competed in the 2016 Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament. He defeated Robert Thomas by unanimous decision in the semifinals and secured the tournament championship with a split decision victory over Yousri Belgaroui. He then challenged Jason Wilnis for the Glory Middleweight Championship at Glory 37: Los Angeles. Wilnis won the fight by unanimous decision, a result that was widely considered controversial.
His final kickboxing bout before fully transitioning to mixed martial arts was a rematch with Alex Pereira at Glory of Heroes 7 in March 2017. Pereira won the fight by knockout, dropping Adesanya with a short left hook in the third round.
2.2. Professional Boxing
Adesanya also pursued a professional boxing career, competing in several tournaments in New Zealand.
2.2.1. Super 8 Boxing Tournaments
Adesanya made his professional boxing debut in November 2014 against two-time Australian champion Daniel Ammann. He entered the inaugural cruiserweight Super 8 Boxing Tournament as a wildcard. He suffered a controversial unanimous decision loss to Ammann in the quarter-finals, despite appearing to have outpointed him.
In May 2015, Adesanya re-entered the Super 8 tournament, the second cruiserweight series. He secured his first professional boxing win by knocking out fellow New Zealander Asher Derbyshire in the second round of the quarter-final. He then won a majority decision against Lance Bryant in the semi-final. In the tournament final, he defeated Brian Minto by split decision to claim the Super 8 crown and 25.00 K NZD.
Adesanya competed in the 2015 Super 8 Cruiserweight tournament (the fourth iteration of the series) in November 2015. He won his semi-final match against Zane Hopman by unanimous decision and defended the cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision win against Lance Bryant in the final.
2.3. Professional Mixed Martial Arts
Adesanya's professional mixed martial arts career is highlighted by his dominant run in the UFC, where he became a multi-time champion and one of the sport's most prominent figures.
2.3.1. Early MMA Career
Adesanya made his professional MMA debut in March 2012, securing a TKO victory over James Griffiths. He followed this with another TKO win against John Vake before taking a two-year break from mixed martial arts. He returned in August 2015, defeating Song Kenan by TKO. Adesanya built an undefeated record of 11-0, fighting primarily in Oceanian and Chinese circuits. During this period, he won the AFC Middleweight Championship at Australia Fighting Championship 20 with a first-round TKO over UFC veteran Melvin Guillard. He also claimed the Hex Fight Series Middleweight Championship with a first-round knockout of Stuart Dare.
2.3.2. Ultimate Fighting Championship Debut and Rise
In December 2017, Adesanya signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He made his highly anticipated debut on February 11, 2018, at UFC 221 against Rob Wilkinson. Adesanya won the fight via technical knockout in the second round, earning his first Performance of the Night bonus.
His next fight was on April 14, 2018, against Marvin Vettori at UFC on Fox 29. He secured a split decision victory, marking his first professional MMA fight that went to the judges' scorecards.
On July 6, 2018, Adesanya faced Brad Tavares at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale. He dominated the fight, winning by unanimous decision, which earned him his second Performance of the Night award.
Adesanya continued his impressive ascent by facing Derek Brunson on November 3, 2018, at UFC 230. He won via technical knockout in the first round after effectively defending takedowns and landing a series of strikes, including a knee and a left straight, which dropped Brunson. This victory earned him his third Performance of the Night award.
His rapid rise culminated in a main event bout against former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva on February 10, 2019, at UFC 234. Adesanya, who regarded Silva as an idol and had been influenced by his fighting style, won the fight via unanimous decision. This highly anticipated matchup earned both fighters the Fight of the Night award.
2.3.3. UFC Middleweight Championship
Adesanya's championship journey began with an interim title bout and led to multiple successful defenses, along with a challenge for the light heavyweight title.
He faced Kelvin Gastelum for the interim UFC Middleweight Championship on April 13, 2019, in the co-main event of UFC 236. In what was widely regarded as the best fight of the year, Adesanya won the thrilling back-and-forth contest by unanimous decision (all three judges scoring 48-46), securing the interim title. This fight also earned him the Fight of the Night award and was later announced for induction into the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame's fight wing. During this fight, Adesanya set a record for most knockdowns in a UFC title fight, with four.
Adesanya then faced Robert Whittaker in a title unification bout on October 6, 2019, headlining UFC 243 for the undisputed UFC Middleweight Championship. After knocking down Whittaker in the final seconds of the first round, Adesanya delivered a clean counter right hook and left hook in the second round, dropping Whittaker again and finishing him with ground and pound for a knockout victory. This win unified the Middleweight Championship and earned him his fourth Performance of the Night award. The event drew an attendance of 57,127, setting a new UFC record for spectator attendance.
His first title defense was against three-time UFC title challenger Yoel Romero on March 7, 2020, at UFC 248. Adesanya won the fight via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, and 49-46). However, the bout was criticized by many fans and pundits for its low activity and uneventful nature, with neither fighter delivering significant offense.
In his next defense, Adesanya faced fellow undefeated fighter Paulo Costa on September 27, 2020, at UFC 253. This marked only the second time in UFC history (and first since 2009) that two undefeated male mixed martial artists met in a title fight. Adesanya won the fight decisively via technical knockout in the second round, earning his fifth Performance of the Night award. After the bout, Adesanya's visible right-breast gynecomastia drew controversy regarding possible PEDs use, though Adesanya attributed it to marijuana use. He also caused additional controversy by simulating anal sex on the prone Costa at the end of the fight, later stating he "couldn't give a f---k" about the reaction, as he felt it was justified.
Adesanya then moved up a weight class to challenge Jan Błachowicz for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on March 6, 2021, headlining UFC 259. At the weigh-ins, Adesanya weighed 200 lb (200 lb), just 5 lb (5 lb) shy of the light heavyweight limit. He lost the fight via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45, and 49-45), marking his first professional mixed martial arts defeat.
Despite the loss at light heavyweight, Adesanya remained the Middleweight Champion and rematched Marvin Vettori for the UFC Middleweight Championship on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263. Adesanya controlled most of the fight, effectively neutralizing Vettori's grappling attempts and dominating the stand-up exchanges, winning by unanimous decision (all three judges scoring 50-45). This marked his third successful title defense.
A second rematch between Adesanya and Robert Whittaker for the UFC Middleweight Championship took place on February 12, 2022, at UFC 271. Adesanya again won by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, and 49-46), securing his fourth title defense.
He then faced Jared Cannonier on July 2, 2022, at UFC 276, winning the bout via unanimous decision. This victory earned him the Crypto.com Fan Bonus of the Night first place award, paid in 30.00 K USD in Bitcoin.
Adesanya next faced Alex Pereira, who had defeated him twice in kickboxing, on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281. Despite leading on all judges' scorecards (39-37 by all three judges) after four rounds, Adesanya lost the fight and the title via technical knockout in the fifth round after being hurt by a left hook and overwhelmed by subsequent strikes. This was his first loss in the middleweight division.
A highly anticipated rematch between Pereira and Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship took place on April 8, 2023, at UFC 287. Adesanya avenged his previous loss and reclaimed the title with a second-round knockout victory, landing a counter right hook and a follow-up right straight that rendered Pereira unconscious. This historic win made him the first two-time UFC Middleweight Champion and earned him another Performance of the Night award. He later revealed he had sustained a medial collateral ligament injury in his knee a week before the fight.
Adesanya faced Sean Strickland on September 10, 2023, at UFC 293. Despite being a significant favorite in the odds, Adesanya lost the bout and the championship in a major upset, falling to Strickland by unanimous decision (49-46 on all three scorecards).
2.3.4. Post-Championship Period
After losing the championship to Sean Strickland, Adesanya entered a period of non-title fights and further challenges.
In his return to the octagon after a nearly year-long hiatus, Adesanya challenged Dricus du Plessis for the UFC Middleweight Championship on August 18, 2024, at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. Despite being competitive in striking exchanges, Adesanya was taken down in the fourth round and suffered his first professional MMA submission loss via a face crank.
His first non-title bout in over five years saw Adesanya face Nassourdine Imavov in the main event on February 1, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 250 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Adesanya lost the fight by technical knockout in the second round after being dropped by a right straight.
2.3.5. UFC Hall of Fame Induction
On the UFC 312 broadcast in February 2025, it was announced that Israel Adesanya's thrilling interim title bout against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 in April 2019 would be inducted into the fight wing of the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame, recognizing it as one of the most significant and memorable fights in UFC history.
3. Fighting Style
Israel Adesanya's fighting style is characterized by his exceptional striking, defensive acumen, and adaptability. Standing at 76 in (193 cm) (6 ft 4 in) with an impressive reach of 80 in (203 cm) (80 in), he effectively utilizes his physical attributes to maintain distance and dictate the pace of his fights.
He excels in boxing exchanges, employing outstanding head movement, footwork, and a remarkable reaction time to evade strikes and deliver precise counters from a swaying motion. Beyond his boxing, Adesanya is proficient in various kicking techniques, leveraging his long limbs to unleash unconventional high kicks, powerful middle kicks, and effective knee strikes at both long and close ranges.
Despite his background primarily in striking, Adesanya has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to the grappling aspects of mixed martial arts. He boasts a high takedown defense rate of 77%, showcasing his skill in preventing opponents from taking him to the ground or quickly returning to his feet when taken down. This well-rounded skill set allows him to be effective in all phases of a fight.
4. Personal Life and Public Image
Outside the octagon, Israel Adesanya maintains a vibrant personal life and has cultivated a distinct public image influenced by his diverse interests.
4.1. Interests and Hobbies
Adesanya is multilingual, fluent in his native Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and English. Before his fighting career, he regularly participated in dance competitions across New Zealand. He notably showcased this passion in a choreographed walkout performance at UFC 243, featuring teenage dance mates as his backup dancers.
A prominent fan of anime, Adesanya has expressed a desire to establish an anime production company after retiring from fighting. His passion is evident in his nickname, "The Last Stylebender," a direct reference to the anime-influenced cartoon series Avatar: The Last Airbender. He has a tattoo of Toph Beifong, one of the show's main characters, on his forearm. His affinity for Naruto is particularly strong; he has a "Eight Trigrams Sealing Style" tattoo on his abdomen, often poses like Rock Lee during weigh-ins and fights, and has worn clothing inspired by the Akatsuki organization at press conferences. Adesanya is also a fan of professional wrestling, once pausing an interview to acknowledge Booker T. In October 2021, he provided a voiceover for the Netflix original anime series Baki Hanma, based on the Grappler Baki manga. He also has tattoos of Deadpool, Calvin and Hobbes, and a full back tattoo of a dragon. His chest tattoo "BROKEN NATIVE" signifies his loyalty to both Nigeria and New Zealand.
4.2. Sponsorships and Business Ventures
In September 2020, Adesanya made history by becoming the first mixed martial arts athlete to sign a sponsorship deal with the major sports brand Puma. He is known for his expensive tastes, having purchased a 500.00 K USD McLaren 720S after his fight against Robert Whittaker. He has also shown generosity to his family, gifting his mother a Porsche Cayenne and his father a Bentley Continental GT. In June 2023, Stylebender, a documentary film focusing on Adesanya's life, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival.
5. Controversies and Incidents
Throughout his public career, Israel Adesanya has been involved in several controversies and incidents that have drawn public and media attention.
5.1. Controversial Statements
In February 2020, at the UFC 248 pre-fight press conference, Adesanya made a controversial remark regarding his opponent Yoel Romero, stating he would make him "crumble like the Twin Towers", referencing the September 11 attacks. He issued an apology on his Instagram page the following day, admitting his brain worked faster than his mouth and that he used "the wrong euphemism".
On March 25, 2021, Adesanya faced backlash for a derogatory sexual comment he made on Instagram directed at fellow UFC middleweight fighter, Kevin Holland, saying, "Bro, I will fuckin' rape you." New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Sport, Grant Robertson, publicly condemned the "flippant comments," emphasizing the seriousness of rape. The incident led to the cancellation of his ambassadorial deal with BMW.
In August 2024, Adesanya made false comments on Twitter regarding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's win at the 2024 Summer Olympics, stating, "Men should not be boxing women. lol he couldn't even finish her. Anyway, people > politics." He later apologized, acknowledging misinformation and stating, "From now on, I will leave women's fights to women."
5.2. Legal and Public Incidents
On November 16, 2022, Adesanya was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City for possession of brass knuckles. His manager stated the matter was dismissed as the item was a gift from a fan and was disposed of on the spot.
On August 19, 2023, Adesanya was pulled over for drunk driving in central Auckland, New Zealand, where his blood alcohol content was measured at 87 mg%, exceeding New Zealand's legal limit of 50 mg% and the threshold of 80 mg% which carries a potential three-month imprisonment. On January 10, 2024, he pleaded guilty and received a fine of 1.50 K NZD and a six-month driving suspension in lieu of a prison sentence. He was granted a discharge without conviction-his second, after a prior incident of driving while disqualified-due to concerns that a conviction would negatively impact his ability to travel and secure sponsorships. Following his court appearance, he posted videos from inside the courtroom to his social media, which is illegal in New Zealand without judicial permission. He later removed the posts and issued an apology.
On September 5, 2024, Adesanya was involved in a verbal confrontation following a road rage incident in Auckland, New Zealand, during which he was caught on video spitting in the direction of the other individual. Adesanya expressed disappointment about the incident, alleging that he was racially abused and that he intended to press charges against the individual.
6. Views and Positions
Israel Adesanya has publicly expressed his opinions on various social and political issues, leveraging his platform as a prominent sports figure.
He endorsed a "yes" vote in the 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum, advocating for the legalization of cannabis. In June 2021, following the death of his training partner Fau Vake, who died after being punched, Adesanya became a vocal advocate for stricter "coward punch" laws, urging Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to toughen penalties for such attacks.
Adesanya has also spoken out against weight-missing in combat sports, stating that the standard 30 percent forfeiture of fight money to the opponent is insufficient. He argued that a 90 percent forfeiture would force fighters to take weight cuts more seriously. He has also called for a historic fight between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. Despite their intense rivalry and multiple fights across different disciplines, Adesanya and Alex Pereira have expressed mutual respect, with Pereira hoping Adesanya succeeds against Dricus du Plessis and Adesanya recognizing Pereira as a "special human being" in combat sports.
7. Championships and Accomplishments
Israel Adesanya has accumulated numerous titles, awards, and honors throughout his distinguished careers in boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts.
7.1. Boxing
- Super 8 Boxing Tournament
- Super 8 III Cruiserweight Champion (2015)
- Super 8 IV Cruiserweight Champion (2015)
7.2. Kickboxing
- King in the Ring
- King in the Ring 86 kg II Champion (2014)
- King in the Ring 86 kg III Champion (2015)
- King in the Ring 100 kg III Champion (2015)
- Most titles in King in the Ring history (3)
- Glory
- 2016 Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament Winner
- Combat Press
- 2017 Fight of the Year (vs. Alex Pereira)
7.3. Mixed Martial Arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Middleweight Championship (Two times)
- Five successful title defenses (first reign)
- First two-time UFC Middleweight Champion
- Interim UFC Middleweight Championship (One time)
- Most knockdowns in a UFC title fight (4, vs. Kelvin Gastelum)
- Second most title fight wins in UFC Middleweight division history (8, behind Anderson Silva)
- Second most knockdowns in UFC title fights (9)
- Performance of the Night (Six times)
- vs. Rob Wilkinson
- vs. Brad Tavares
- vs. Derek Brunson
- vs. Robert Whittaker 1
- vs. Paulo Costa
- vs. Alex Pereira 2
- Fight of the Night (Two times)
- vs. Anderson Silva
- vs. Kelvin Gastelum
- Tied (Yoel Romero) for the third most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC Middleweight division history (8)
- Tied (Anderson Silva) for most knockdowns in UFC Middleweight division history (13)
- Second longest winning streak in UFC Middleweight division history (12, behind Anderson Silva)
- Second longest average fight time in UFC Middleweight division history (17:09)
- Sixth longest average fight time in UFC history (17:35)
- Third most total fight time in UFC Middleweight division history (4:51:30)
- Third most significant strikes landed in UFC Middleweight division history (1193)
- Fourth most total strikes landed in UFC Middleweight division history (1380)
- UFC Honors Awards
- 2019: President's Choice Fight of the Year Winner (vs. Kelvin Gastelum)
- 2019: President's Choice Performance of the Year Nominee (vs. Robert Whittaker 1)
- 2023: Fan's Choice Knockout of the Year Winner (vs. Alex Pereira 2)
- 2023: President's Choice Performance of the Year Nominee (vs. Alex Pereira 2)
- UFC.com Awards
- 2018: Newcomer of the Year
- 2018: Ranked #7 Fighter of the Year
- 2019: Fight of the Year (vs. Kelvin Gastelum)
- 2019: Top 10 Fighter of the Year
- 2020: Ranked #10 Fighter of the Year
- 2023: Half-Year Awards: Best Fighter of the 1HY
- 2023: Half-Year Awards: Best Knockout of the 1HY
- 2023: Ranked #2 Knockout of the Year (vs. Alex Pereira 2)
- 2024: Ranked #10 Fight of the Year (vs. Dricus Du Plessis)
- UFC Middleweight Championship (Two times)
- Australian Fighting Championship
- AFC Middleweight Champion (one time; former)
- Hex Fighting Series Middleweight
- Hex Fighting Series Middleweight Champion (one time; former)
- 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)
- 2023 Knockout of the Year (vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 287)
- MMA Fighting
- 2018 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
- 2019 Fight of the Year (vs. Kelvin Gastelum)
- 2019 Fighter of the Year
- 2023 Knockout of the Year (vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 287)
- 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
- Mixed Martial Arts Most Valuable (2022)
- Best Box Office Draw (2022)
- Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year (2019, 2020)
- MMA Match of the Year (vs. Kelvin Gastelum, 2019)
- LowKick MMA
- 2023 Knockout of the Year (vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 287)
- ESPN
- 2023 Knockout of the Year (vs. Alex Pereira at UFC 287)
- UFC Hall of Fame
- Fight Wing (Class of 2025, vs. Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236)
8. Fight Records
8.1. Mixed Martial Arts Record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 24-5 | Nassourdine Imavov | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov | February 1, 2025 | 2 | 0:30 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |
| Loss | 24-4 | Dricus du Plessis | Submission (face crank) | UFC 305 | August 18, 2024 | 4 | 3:38 | Perth, Australia | For the UFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Loss | 24-3 | Sean Strickland | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 293 | September 10, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | Lost the UFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 24-2 | Alex Pereira | KO (punches) | UFC 287 | April 8, 2023 | 2 | 4:21 | Miami, Florida, United States | Won the UFC Middleweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 23-2 | Alex Pereira | TKO (punches) | UFC 281 | November 12, 2022 | 5 | 2:01 | New York City, New York, United States | Lost the UFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 23-1 | Jared Cannonier | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 276 | July 2, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Defended the UFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 22-1 | Robert Whittaker | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 271 | February 12, 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | Defended the UFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 21-1 | Marvin Vettori | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 263 | June 12, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | Defended the UFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Loss | 20-1 | Jan Błachowicz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 259 | March 6, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 20-0 | Paulo Costa | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC 253 | September 27, 2020 | 2 | 3:59 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Defended the UFC Middleweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 19-0 | Yoel Romero | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 248 | March 7, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Defended the UFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 18-0 | Robert Whittaker | KO (punches) | UFC 243 | October 6, 2019 | 2 | 3:33 | Melbourne, Australia | Won and unified the UFC Middleweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 17-0 | Kelvin Gastelum | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 236 | April 13, 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Won the interim UFC Middleweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 16-0 | Anderson Silva | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 234 | February 10, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 15-0 | Derek Brunson | TKO (knees and punches) | UFC 230 | November 3, 2018 | 1 | 4:51 | New York City, New York, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 14-0 | Brad Tavares | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale | July 6, 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13-0 | Marvin Vettori | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje | April 14, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 12-0 | Rob Wilkinson | TKO (knees and punches) | UFC 221 | February 11, 2018 | 2 | 3:37 | Perth, Australia | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 11-0 | Stuart Dare | KO (head kick) | Hex Fighting Series 12 | November 24, 2017 | 1 | 4:53 | Melbourne, Australia | Won the vacant HEX Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 10-0 | Melvin Guillard | TKO (punches) | Australian FC 20 | July 28, 2017 | 1 | 4:49 | Melbourne, Australia | Won the vacant AFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 9-0 | Murad Kuramagomedov | TKO (punches) | WLF E.P.I.C.: Elevation Power in Cage 4 | May 28, 2016 | 2 | 1:05 | Henan, China | |
| Win | 8-0 | Andrew Flores Smith | TKO (corner stoppage) | Glory of Heroes 2 | May 7, 2016 | 1 | 5:00 | Shenzhen, China | |
| Win | 7-0 | Dibir Zagirov | TKO (punches) | WLF E.P.I.C.: Elevation Power in Cage 2 | March 13, 2016 | 2 | 2:23 | Henan, China | |
| Win | 6-0 | Vladimir Katykhin | TKO (doctor stoppage) | WLF E.P.I.C.: Elevation Power in Cage 1 | January 13, 2016 | 2 | 2:13 | Henan, China | |
| Win | 5-0 | Gele Qing | TKO (elbows) | Wu Lin Feng 2015: New Zealand vs. China | September 19, 2015 | 2 | 3:37 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 4-0 | Maui Tuigamala | TKO (kick to the body) | Fair Pay Fighting 1 | September 5, 2015 | 2 | 1:25 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 3-0 | Song Kenan | TKO (head kick) | The Legend of Emei 3 | August 8, 2015 | 1 | 1:59 | Chengdu, China | Catchweight (187 lb (187 lb)) bout. |
| Win | 2-0 | John Vake | TKO (punches) | Shuriken MMA: Best of the Best | June 15, 2013 | 1 | 4:43 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 1-0 | James Griffiths | TKO (punches) | Supremacy FC 9 | March 24, 2012 | 1 | 2:09 | Auckland, New Zealand | Middleweight debut. |
8.2. Kickboxing Record
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 75-5 | Alex Pereira | KO (left hook) | Glory of Heroes 7 | March 4, 2017 | 3 | 0:42 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| Loss | 75-4 | Jason Wilnis | Decision (unanimous) | Glory 37: Los Angeles | January 20, 2017 | 5 | 3:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | For the Glory Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 75-3 | Yousri Belgaroui | Decision (split) | Glory 34: Denver - Middleweight Contender Tournament Finals | October 21, 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Wins Glory 34: Denver - Middleweight Contender Tournament Championship. |
| Win | 74-3 | Robert Thomas | Decision (unanimous) | Glory 34: Denver - Middleweight Contender Tournament, Semi Finals | October 21, 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | |
| Win | 73-3 | Bogdan Stoica | KO (left mid kick) | Glory of Heroes 5 | October 1, 2016 | 2 | 1:45 | Zhengzhou, China | |
| Win | 72-3 | Romain Falendry | Decision (unanimous) | Rise of Heroes 1 | September 17, 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Chaoyang, Liaoning, China | |
| Win | 71-3 | Yousri Belgaroui | Decision (unanimous) | Glory of Heroes 4 | August 6, 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Changzhi, China | |
| Win | 70-3 | Filip Verlinden | Decision (unanimous) | Glory of Heroes 3 | July 2, 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Jiyuan, Henan, China | |
| Win | 69-3 | Vitaly Kodin | Decision (unanimous) | Wu Lin Feng | June 25, 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | China | |
| Loss | 68-3 | Alex Pereira | Decision (unanimous) | Glory of Heroes 1 | April 2, 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Shenzhen, China | |
| Win | 68-2 | Carl N'Diaye | KO (left hook to the body) | The Legend of Emei 7 - Wenjiang | January 30, 2016 | 1 | 3:00 | Wenjiang, China | |
| Win | 67-2 | Jamie Eades | Decision (unanimous) | King in the Ring 100 - The Heavyweights III, Final | October 31, 2015 | 3 | 3:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | Wins King in the Ring 100 - The Heavyweights III Tournament Championship. |
| Win | 66-2 | Dan Roberts | KO (uppercut) | King in the Ring 100 - The Heavyweights III, Semi Finals | October 31, 2015 | 1 | 0:26 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 65-2 | Nase Foai | TKO (corner stoppage) | King in the Ring 100 - The Heavyweights III, Quarter Finals | October 31, 2015 | 3 | N/A | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 64-2 | Pati Afoa | KO (right cross) | King in the Ring 86 - The Cruiserweights III, Final | April 11, 2015 | 1 | 0:52 | Auckland, New Zealand | Wins King in the Ring 86 - The Cruiserweights III Tournament Championship. |
| Win | 63-2 | Mark Timms | TKO (knee to the body) | King in the Ring 86 - The Cruiserweights III, Semi Finals | April 11, 2015 | 2 | N/A | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 62-2 | Kim Loudon | TKO (referee stoppage) | King in the Ring 86 - The Cruiserweights III, Quarter Finals | April 11, 2015 | 3 | N/A | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 61-2 | Kim Loudon | TKO (retirement) | Knees of Fury 50 | February 14, 2015 | 4 | N/A | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Win | 60-2 | Pati Afoa | KO (question mark kick) | King in the Ring | 2015 | N/A | N/A | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 59-2 | Joe Boobyer | KO (knee) | Knees of Fury 48 | October 11, 2014 | N/A | N/A | Hamilton, New Zealand | |
| Win | 58-2 | Wenjie Guo | Decision | Kungfu Union | September 21, 2014 | 3 | 3:00 | Dalian, China | |
| Win | 57-2 | Jamie Eades | KO (knee to the body) | King in the Ring 86 - The Cruiserweights II, Final | August 30, 2014 | 1 | 1:08 | Auckland, New Zealand | Wins King in the Ring 86 - The Cruiserweights II Tournament Championship. |
| Win | 56-2 | Pati Afoa | KO (right cross) | King in the Ring 86 - The Cruiserweights II, Semi Finals | August 30, 2014 | 1 | N/A | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 55-2 | Slava Alekseychik | Decision (unanimous) | King in the Ring 86 - The Cruiserweights II, Quarter Finals | August 30, 2014 | 3 | 3:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 54-2 | Charles August | TKO (knee) | Knees of Fury 46 | May 24, 2014 | 2 | N/A | Adelaide, Australia | Wins the WMC Oceania Cruiserweight title. |
| Loss | 53-2 | Filip Verlinden | Decision (unanimous) | Glory 15: Istanbul | April 12, 2014 | 3 | 3:00 | Istanbul, Turkey | |
| Loss | 53-1 | Simon Marcus | Ext. R Decision (split) | Kunlun Fight 2 - 80 kg tournament, Semi Finals | February 16, 2014 | 4 | 3:00 | Zhengzhou, China | |
| Win | 53-0 | Qin Shan | TKO | Wu Lin Feng 2013 | November 27, 2013 | 3 | N/A | Anyang, China | |
| Win | 52-0 | Nurla Mulali | Decision (unanimous) | Wu Lin Feng 2013 | September 11, 2013 | 3 | 3:00 | Kashi, China | |
| Win | 51-0 | Niu Xiaoqiang | KO (punches) | Wu Lin Feng 2012 | July 21, 2012 | 3 | N/A | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 50-0 | Xu Yi | Decision (unanimous) | Wu Lin Feng 2012 | June 23, 2012 | 3 | 3:00 | Foshan, China | |
| Win | 49-0 | Gary Williams | Decision (split) | Knees of Fury 38 | August 29, 2012 | 3 | 3:00 | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Win | 48-0 | Gary Williams | Decision (split) | Knees of Fury 37 | May 26, 2012 | 3 | 3:00 | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Win | 47-0 | Steve Behan | Decision (unanimous) | Knees of Fury 36 | February 25, 2012 | 3 | 3:00 | Adelaide, Australia | |
| Win | 46-0 | Guo Qiang | TKO (referee stoppage) | CI-K | September 24, 2011 | 3 | N/A | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
| Win | 45-0 | Guo Qiang | Decision | Wu Lin Feng 2011 | June 11, 2011 | 3 | 3:00 | Shangqiu, China | |
| Win | 44-0 | Eds Eramiha | Decision (unanimous) | Rumble in the Ville | February 12, 2011 | 5 | 2:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | Wins the WKBF New Zealand Cruiserweight title. |
| Win | 43-0 | Eds Eramiha | N/A | Puma 8 Man Tournament | December 4, 2010 | N/A | N/A | New Zealand | |
| Win | 42-0 | Ti'i Nanai | N/A | Puma 8 Man Tournament | December 4, 2010 | N/A | N/A | New Zealand | |
| Win | 41-0 | Areta Gilbert | N/A | Puma 8 Man Tournament | December 4, 2010 | N/A | N/A | New Zealand | |
| Win | 40-0 | Ben Davis | N/A | Lee Gar 35th Year Anniversary | July 17, 2010 | N/A | N/A | New Zealand | |
| Win | 39-0 | Tim Atonio | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Force | May 16, 2010 | 5 | 2:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
| Win | 38-0 | Jerry Seagar | N/A | Bring the South to the City 3 | April 23, 2010 | N/A | N/A | New Zealand |
8.3. Boxing Record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Win | 5-1 | Lance Bryant | UD | 3 | November 3, 2015 | SkyCity, Auckland, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament IV: cruiserweight final |
| 5 | Win | 4-1 | Zane Hopman | UD | 3 | November 3, 2015 | SkyCity, Auckland, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament IV: cruiserweight semi-final |
| 4 | Win | 3-1 | Brian Minto | SD | 3 | March 28, 2015 | Horncastle Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament III: cruiserweight final |
| 3 | Win | 2-1 | Lance Bryant | MD | 3 | March 28, 2015 | Horncastle Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament III: cruiserweight semi-final |
| 2 | Win | 1-1 | Asher Derbyshire | KO | 2 (3) | March 28, 2015 | Horncastle Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament III: cruiserweight quarter-final |
| 1 | Loss | 0-1 | Daniel Ammann | UD | 3 | November 22, 2014 | North Shore Events Centre, Auckland, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament II: cruiserweight quarter-final |
9. Pay-per-view Bouts
| No. | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | UFC 234 | Adesanya vs. Silva | February 10, 2019 | Rod Laver Arena | Melbourne, Australia | 175.00 K buys |
| 2. | UFC 243 | Whittaker vs. Adesanya | October 8, 2019 | Marvel Stadium | Melbourne, Australia | Not Disclosed |
| 3. | UFC 248 | Adesanya vs. Romero | March 7, 2020 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S | Not Disclosed |
| 4. | UFC 253 | Adesanya vs. Costa | September 27, 2020 | Flash Forum | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 700.00 K buys |
| 5. | UFC 259 | Błachowicz vs. Adesanya | March 6, 2021 | UFC Apex | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S | 800.00 K buys |
| 6. | UFC 263 | Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 | June 12, 2021 | Gila River Arena | Glendale, Arizona, U.S | 600.00 K buys |
| 7. | UFC 271 | Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2 | February 12, 2022 | Toyota Center | Houston, Texas, U.S | Not Disclosed |
| 8. | UFC 276 | Adesanya vs. Cannonier | July 2, 2022 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S | 400.00 K buys |
| 9. | UFC 281 | Adesanya vs. Pereira | November 12, 2022 | Madison Square Garden | New York City, New York, U.S | 850.00 K buys |
| 10. | UFC 287 | Pereira vs. Adesanya 2 | April 8, 2023 | Kaseya Center | Miami, Florida, U.S | Not Disclosed |
| 11. | UFC 293 | Adesanya vs. Strickland | September 10, 2023 | Qudos Bank Arena | Sydney, Australia | Not Disclosed |
| 12. | UFC 305 | du Plessis vs. Adesanya | August 18, 2024 | RAC Arena | Perth, Australia | Not Disclosed |
10. Legacy and Reception
Israel Adesanya has left a significant impact on the landscape of combat sports, recognized for both his athletic prowess and his unique persona. He is widely considered one of the most dynamic and entertaining fighters of his generation, often credited with bringing a new level of showmanship and charisma to the UFC.
His striking artistry, defensive skills, and ability to adapt to diverse opponents have set him apart in the middleweight division. Adesanya's two reigns as UFC Middleweight Champion, including multiple successful defenses and reclaiming the title, underscore his elite status and resilience. His fight against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 is particularly celebrated, being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's fight wing, a testament to its dramatic nature and technical brilliance.
Beyond his in-cage performances, Adesanya's outspoken personality, cultural references (especially his passion for anime), and dedication to his craft have resonated with a global audience, drawing new fans to mixed martial arts. He has been recognized with numerous "Fighter of the Year" and "Breakthrough Fighter" awards from various combat sports media outlets, further solidifying his position as a prominent and influential figure in the sport. His induction as New Zealand's Sportsman of the Year in 2019 marked a historic moment, as he was the first combat sports athlete to receive such an honor in the country. Adesanya's impact extends beyond competition, influencing fighter expression and the integration of diverse cultural elements into the sport's mainstream.