Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya is a Nigerian-born, New Zealand-based professional MMA fighter and former UFC Middleweight Champion, widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers in the sport's history.

By Alexandre Le Hégarat · datastats · Updated June 15, 2026

Israel Adesanya, “The Last Stylebender”

Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Adesanya was born on July 22, 1989, in Lagos, Nigeria. He moved to New Zealand as a teenager and built a dominant kickboxing career before transitioning to MMA. He signed with the UFC in 2018 and almost immediately became the most exciting fighter on the roster.

Adesanya captured the UFC Middleweight Championship in October 2019 by defeating Robert Whittaker via second-round KO, cementing his place among the elite. He went on to defend the belt multiple times, with his rivalry against Brazilian power-puncher Alex Pereira becoming one of the defining storylines of the modern UFC era.

Outside the octagon, Adesanya is as known for his personality as his fighting. He is deeply connected to anime, pop culture, and fashion, references that bleed directly into his walkout costumes and fighting identity. He is a polarising figure: fans love his flair and skill; critics say his later title reign became too conservative.

His career has seen extraordinary highs and a handful of painful lows, making him one of the most searched fighters in UFC history. Every time he fights, or doesn’t, the internet wants answers.

People also ask

Adesanya is based in Auckland, New Zealand, where he trains at City Kickboxing (CKB), the gym run by coach Eugene Bareman that also produced Alexander Volkanovski. He has lived in New Zealand since his family relocated there when he was a teenager, and he considers it home.

Adesanya holds New Zealand citizenship and competes under the New Zealand flag. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, so he carries Nigerian heritage, but his nationality for sporting and legal purposes is New Zealand.

Israel Adesanya was born on July 22, 1989, making him 35 years old as of mid-2025. He is in the later prime years of a combat sports career, though elite strikers have competed well into their late 30s.

Adesanya stands 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) tall, which is exceptionally large for the middleweight division (185 lb limit). Combined with his 80-inch reach, his size is a core tactical weapon, he keeps opponents at range and picks them apart.

No verified, publicly disclosed figure exists for Adesanya's net worth, any specific number floating around online is an estimate, not a confirmed fact. What is documented: he has earned multi-million-dollar purses across his UFC title fights, holds sponsorship deals, and has business interests. Reliable outlets have cited estimates in the range of $10–15 million USD, but treat that as informed speculation, not gospel.

Same answer regardless of how you type it: there is no officially confirmed net worth figure. Publicly reported UFC purses and endorsements suggest he has accumulated significant wealth, estimates circulating in sports media typically land between $10–15 million USD, but no audited number has been disclosed.

As of mid-2025, no official next fight has been formally announced for Adesanya by the UFC. He lost his middleweight title rematch to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in August 2024 and has been linked to potential matchups, but nothing is locked in. Check UFC.com for the latest confirmed booking.

There is no publicly confirmed net worth on record. Sports media estimates generally place it somewhere around $10–15 million USD based on disclosed fight purses and known sponsorship activity, but no official figure has ever been released by Adesanya or his team.

Adesanya has spoken publicly about his Christian faith and has referenced God in post-fight speeches and interviews. He is not loudly evangelical about it, but Christianity appears to be a part of his personal identity.

No confirmed date has been announced as of mid-2025. After losing to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in August 2024, Adesanya's next step has been a subject of ongoing speculation. Keep an eye on official UFC announcements for a confirmed date.

Adesanya defeated Alex Pereira at UFC 287 on April 8, 2023, in Miami, stopping him with a vicious second-round KO to reclaim the UFC Middleweight Championship. It was sweet revenge: Pereira had stopped Adesanya twice before, once in kickboxing and once at UFC 281 in November 2022.

No venue or location has been confirmed for Adesanya's next fight as of mid-2025. Once the UFC officially announces a bout, location details will be published on UFC.com and across major MMA news outlets.

Adesanya has not been on a confirmed fight card since losing to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in August 2024. The gap appears to be a combination of recovery time, contract/matchmaking negotiations, and the UFC determining the right opponent. He has not announced retirement.

As of mid-2025, no official reason has been given for the extended absence. After a brutal loss at UFC 305, his second consecutive defeat, it is entirely normal for a fighter to take time off, reassess, and wait for the right opportunity. Nothing publicly confirmed points to injury or suspension.

The nickname 'Stylebender' is a direct reference to the animated TV series *Avatar: The Last Airbender*. In the show, the protagonist Aang is the 'Avatar' who can bend all four elements, Adesanya drew a parallel to his own ability to blend and adapt multiple striking styles in combat. The 'Last' prefix was added to complete the homage to the show's full title.

He adopted 'The Last Stylebender' as a full nod to *Avatar: The Last Airbender*, the Nickelodeon animated series he is famously passionate about. Just as Aang is the last of his kind who can master all bending arts, Adesanya positions himself as a singular stylist who cannot be categorised or countered with a single gameplan.

Adesanya does not actually have an American accent, he has a New Zealand accent with Nigerian tonal influences, which to some non-New Zealand ears can sound vaguely 'mid-Atlantic' or American, particularly in formal interview settings. He has lived in New Zealand since his teens, and New Zealand English is his primary spoken dialect.

As of mid-2025, Adesanya has five losses on his professional MMA record. Those defeats came against Marvin Vettori (early career, later avenged), Jan Błachowicz (light heavyweight title attempt), Alex Pereira (UFC 281), Sean Strickland (UFC 293), and Dricus Du Plessis (UFC 305). His overall record stands at 24 wins and 5 losses.

After a dominant run as middleweight champion, Adesanya hit a rough patch: he lost his title to Sean Strickland in a stunning upset at UFC 293 (September 2023), recaptured it briefly, wait, actually, Strickland lost the belt to Du Plessis, and then lost a title shot to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in August 2024. He has been out of action since and his path forward in the UFC remains unconfirmed.

No, as of mid-2025, Adesanya has not announced retirement. He has spoken in interviews about still having motivation to compete and reclaim the middleweight title. Until he formally announces otherwise, he remains an active fighter on the UFC roster.