Israel Adesanya burst onto the UFC scene in 2018 and quickly rose to stardom with his creative striking and charismatic flair. The New Zealand native captured the middleweight title in 2019 and has established himself as one of MMA‘s biggest superstars. However, "The Last Stylebender‘s" meteoric career has not been without setbacks. Let‘s take a deep dive into Adesanya‘s professional fight record and the key moments that defined his journey.
By the Numbers: Israel Adesanya‘s Fighting Stats
- Professional MMA Record: 23 Wins, 3 Losses
- Height: 6‘4"
- Reach: 80 inches
- Stance: Orthodox
- Key Striking Statistics:
- 73% Significant Striking Accuracy (UFC Average is 44%)
- 5.36 Strikes Landed Per Minute (SLpM)
- 3.26 Significant Strikes Absorbed Per Minute (SAPM)
- +2.1 Striking Differential (4th Best in UFC History)
As the stats illustrate, Adesanya is an elite striker even by UFC standards. His accuracy, output, and defensive responsiveness are all world-class. He masterfully employs all eight limbs, integrating punches, kicks, knees, and elbows into fluid combinations. This dynamic standup arsenal has overwhelmed all but a select few opponents.
Now let‘s analyze the key moments and inflection points throughout Israel Adesanya‘s fighting career.
The Rapid Rise
After amassing an impressive 75-5 kickboxing record, Adesanya transitioned full time to MMA at age 27. He immediately showed promise by winning his first 5 fights all via (T)KO from 2017-2018.
The UFC came calling in 2018. Adesanya promptly dispatched his first two Octagon opponents to set up a step up in competition against Derek Brunson. He handily outstruck the veteran over 3 rounds, displaying masterful defence along with pinpoint and creative striking.
This win streak catapulted Adesanya into title contention in the middleweight division. After another pair of dominant wins, he earned his shot at Robert Whittaker‘s championship at UFC 243 in 2019.
Championship Reign
The Whittaker fight marked Adesanya‘s arrival as an elite pound-for-pound talent. He picked apart the champion before knocking him out in the 2nd round in front of over 57,000 fans in Australia. At age 29, Adesanya had achieved his dream of becoming a UFC champion.
As champion, Adesanya extended his winning run with victories over Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori. While his fights often went the distance, he consistently outstruck his foes using his trademark movement, feints and diverse attack.
Adesanya‘s dominance led to a challenge that many fans were clamoring for – a "champ champ" showdown against Jan Blachowicz at light heavyweight.
The First Setback
The fight with Blachowicz in March 2021 marked uncharted territory, as Adesanya had never lost in MMA. Unfortunately for the Stylebender, moving up 20 pounds in weight proved difficult.
Blachowicz used his size advantage to neutralize Adesanya‘s offense over 5 rounds, taking away his kicking range and smothering him against the cage. Adesanya struggled to get his striking going and lost a clear unanimous decision.
While disappointing, this could be seen as a learning experience for Adesanya. The fight demonstrated the importance of maximizing physicality and cage craft against larger opponents.
Adesanya returned to 185 pounds in his next fight, beating Marvin Vettori more convincingly in their rematch to bounce back. But another ghost from his past would soon emerge to haunt him…
The Pereira Problem
Alex Pereira, a dangerous Brazilian striker, holds two kickboxing wins over Israel Adesanya – including a violent KO. When Pereira signed with the UFC, a trilogy fight felt inevitable.
At UFC 281, after Pereira won three straight in the Octagon, the feud was renewed. In a close battle, Pereira once again came out on top, stopping Adesanya with strikes in the final round to take his title.
Losing the belt he held for three years was heartbreaking for Adesanya. However, the fight‘s competitiveness suggests the rivalry with Pereira remains unsettled. Most expect an immediate rematch in 2024 to determine who is the true king of the middleweight division.
The Road Ahead
At 33 years old, Adesanya‘s career remains far from over. His record stands at 23-3, with all three losses coming against bigger or familiar foes. He still appears to have a pronounced skill edge over virtually every 185-pounder except Alex Pereira.
If Adesanya can make subtle adjustments to his game plans and tilt the matchups in his favor, he‘s fully capable of regaining his lost throne. However, he must be cautious not to become overly focused on redemption against Pereira, as new contenders like Sean Strickland loom in the wings.
Regardless of whether he ever recaptures gold, Israel Adesanya has cemented his legacy as one of the most creative, entertaining and dangerous strikers ever to step foot in the Octagon. Win or lose, any fight featuring the Last Stylebender guarantees fireworks.
