Hailing from New Zealand, Israel Adesanya has solidified his place as one of the most formidable figures in combat sports. Known for his prowess in mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and boxing, Adesanya has carved a path of success that has captured the attention of fight fans worldwide.
A former two-time Middleweight UFC champion, Adesanya is known for his striking ability having carved out an impressive career in kickboxing before his move into the UFC. His versatility and adaptability across different combat disciplines highlight his status as a true martial artist who can draw upon an assortment of weapons to counter his opponents.
Perhaps Adesanya’s greatest strength, however, is his stage presence. It possesses a star power that only a few can attain. He has the swagger in the middleweight division that echoes the glory days of Anderson Silva.
Since Silva's reign, the middleweight division has yearned for a charismatic figure to captivate audiences, and Adesanya has stepped into that role with aplomb. His accomplishments in the octagon surpass those of former titleholders like Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold, solidifying his status as a true great of the sport.
It's not just about what happens in the octagon
Becoming a top sportsman means more than just winning and Adesanya is following in the footsteps of other fighting greats by developing a career outside the octagon. Muhammad Ali transcended boxing through his philanthropy work while his arch-rival George Foreman made his famous grill. Mike Tyson started acting in films, while WWE star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson developed several brands like his tequila range and sports drinks.
Hulk Hogan, probably the most famous professional wrestler of all time, even had a slots game created in his name. Hulkamania, like other wrestling-based slots games like Lucha Maniacs and WWE Legends, are popular at online casinos. For Adesanya fans in New Zealand, free spins and special offers are now available on slots like these and they are listed at BonusFinder New Zealand. While Kiwi native Adesanya does not have his own slots game yet, his entrepreneurship is building upon his celebrity status as one of New Zealand’s biggest names in sport.
Collaborating with Engage, he has crafted a unique design infused with cultural inspiration drawing from both his New Zealand and Nigerian heritage. The clothing and sports equipment range, known as Broken Native, has been described by the fighter as being symbolic of the individual who stands apart from the crowd.
Adesanya has become a poster boy for MMA
Despite Adesanya's loss to Sean Strickland in 2023, the fighter is still a fan favorite. He is undoubtedly one of the UFC’s biggest draws. His unique blend of skill and showmanship will continue to make him appealing to those who follow MMA. However, we mustn’t forget his 12 victories in a row. Each win came with relative ease. He also showed immense courage to return to beat Alex Pereira in their 2023 re-match.
Following that fight UFC commentator Jon Anik boldly declared Adesanya as the greatest middleweight of all time. While the legendary Anderson Silva holds the record for defending his middleweight title 10 consecutive times, Anik argues that Adesanya's resume is even more impressive, highlighting his strength of schedule and comeback win over Pereira who had previously got the better of him. While fans will still argue over the subject, Anik’s words put Adesanya’s name well and truly in the mix.
