
Israel Adesanya
Acting
Biography
Professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC Middleweight division.
Known For

The show with hot questions and even hotter wings invites a famous guest over to eat and then interviews them while they're struggling through the heat.
Hot Ones

Inside 30 for 30 is a deep-dive, roundtable discussion providing historical context and analytical takes with a diverse line-up of hosts and interviewees tangentially associated with 30 for 30 films.
Inside 30 for 30

The fight that turned sport on its head. In a historic match up, we present an unprecedented look behind the scenes to explore how the match between Boxing's World Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury and the former UFC-Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou was made, fought and ultimately won. A real David and Goliath story with drama only sport can write. From learning about how a small boy from Cameroon escaped life in the sand mines to become UFC Heavyweight Champion of the world, to how a small boy from Morecambe Bay became one of the most inspirational faces on the planet - this is a story of two very different icons who put it all on the line in front of the world in an event that changed the game forever.
Battle of the Baddest

UFC 259: Błachowicz vs. Adesanya was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 6, 2021 at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States. The event was headlined by a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between then champion Jan Błachowicz (also former KSW Light Heavyweight Champion) and former UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya.
UFC 259: Blachowicz vs. Adesanya

A UFC Middleweight Championship rematch between current champion Alex Pereira (also former Glory Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion) and former champion Israel Adesanya is expected to headline the event. The pairing previously met at UFC 281 in which Pereira captured the title by fifth round knockout. The two also previously met twice in kickboxing matchups. The first in April 2016 which Pereira won by unanimous decision. Their second meeting took place at Glory of Heroes 7 in March 2017 which Pereira won by third round knockout.
UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2

UFC 305: du Plessis vs. Adesanya was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will take place on August 18, 2024, at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. A UFC Middleweight Championship bout between current champion (also former KSW Welterweight Champion) Dricus du Plessis and former two-time champion Israel Adesanya is expected to headline the event. It will mark the first time two African-born athletes meet for a title in the organization.
UFC 305: du Plessis vs. Adesanya

UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on April 13, 2019 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was headlined by an interim UFC Lightweight Championship bout between former UFC Featherweight Champion Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier. The two previously met in a featherweight bout at UFC 143 where Poirier won by submission in the first round.
UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier 2

UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on November 12, 2022, at the Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States. A UFC Middleweight Championship bout between current champion Israel Adesanya and former Glory Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira headlined the event. The pairing previously met twice in kickboxing matchups. The first in April 2016 which Pereira won by unanimous decision. Their second meeting took place at Glory of Heroes 7 in March 2017, which Pereira won by third-round knockout.
UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira

UFC 221: Romero vs. Rockhold is a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on February 10, 2018 at Perth Arena in Perth, Australia.
UFC 221: Romero vs. Rockhold

UFC on Fox 29: Poirier vs. Gaethje was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on April 14, 2018, at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The event was headlined by a lightweight bout between Dustin Poirier and former WSOF Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje.
UFC on Fox 29: Poirier vs. Gaethje

UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland is a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 10, 2023, at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. A UFC Middleweight Championship bout between current champion Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland headlined the event with co-main event a Heavyweight bout featuring an Australian fighter, Tai Tuivasa against Alexander Volkov.
UFC 293: Adesanya vs. Strickland

UFC Fight Night 250: Adesanya vs. Imavov was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 1, 2025, at the anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A middleweight bout between former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov headlined this event.
UFC Fight Night 250: Adesanya vs. Imavov

UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on June 12, 2021, at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, United States. A UFC Middleweight Championship bout between then champion Israel Adesanya and Marvin Vettori headlined the event. The pair previously met at UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje, where Adesanya won via split decision.
UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori 2

UFC Fight Night 271: Adesanya vs. Pyfer was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 28, 2026, at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, United States. A middleweight bout between former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya and Joe Pyfer headlined the event.
UFC Fight Night 271: Adesanya vs. Pyfer

UFC 230: Cormier vs. Lewis is a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on November 3, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
UFC 230: Cormier vs. Lewis

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World MMA Awards 2023

UFC 234: Adesanya vs. Silva was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on February 10, 2019 at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
UFC 234: Adesanya vs. Silva

UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 7, 2020 at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. A UFC Middleweight Championship bout between the current champion Israel Adesanya and former interim title challenger (as well as 2000 Olympic silver medalist and former world champion in freestyle wrestling) Yoel Romero headlined the event.
UFC 248: Adesanya vs. Romero

An intimate look at Israel Adesanya, the Nigerian born New Zealand based MMA champion, which goes beyond the ring and delves deep into an unlikely fighter's journey. Exploring themes of masculinity, bullying and even the healing power of dance, this documentary is a poignant examination of the complex, exciting and sometimes controversial person known as 'The Last Stylebender.'
Stylebender

UFC 271: Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 12, 2022 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, United States. A UFC Middleweight Championship rematch between then champion Israel Adesanya and former champion Robert Whittaker (also The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes welterweight winner) served as the event's headliner. The pairing met previously in October 2019 at UFC 243, when then interim champion Adesanya knocked out Whittaker in the second round to unify the middleweight title.