Israel Adesanya

Israel Adesanya, known as “The Last Stylebender,” is a Nigerian-New Zealand mixed martial artist widely regarded as one of the most technically refined strikers in MMA history. Born on July 22, 1989, in Lagos, Nigeria, Adesanya moved to New Zealand as a teenager and built a 75–5 kickboxing record competing across Asia before transitioning to MMA under the City Kickboxing banner in Auckland under coach Eugene Bareman.

Adesanya’s rise through the UFC middleweight division was near-flawless. He captured the interim title with a performance against Kelvin Gastelum in April 2019, unified the belt by stopping Robert Whittaker in September 2019, and defended it five times — against Yoel Romero twice, Paulo Costa, Vettori, and Whittaker again — before an unsuccessful light heavyweight title challenge against Jan Blachowicz in 2021. He lost the middleweight crown to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, reclaimed it via KO rematch at UFC 287, then dropped it to Sean Strickland in a stunning upset at UFC 293 in September 2023.

Outside of title fights, Adesanya is celebrated for his fluid movement, impeccable timing, and ability to make elite opponents look ordinary. His background in anime, dance, and capoeira-influenced footwork gave him a style unlike anything middleweight audiences had seen, and his fights with Robert Whittaker and Alex Pereira defined the division’s most competitive era. He has remained an ambassador for the sport globally, particularly across Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.