Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya was born on 22 July 1989 in Lagos, Nigeria. He is Yoruba, with family roots in Odogbolu, Ogun State.
Israel Adesanya grew up in Lagos in a Christian home. He speaks English, Yoruba and Nigerian Pidgin from an early age.
At 18, he got into kickboxing after watching Ong-Bak. He went 32–0 as an amateur and made a name for himself fast. He later turned professional and fought around the world.
Adesanya holds dual nationality. He is Nigerian by birth and represents New Zealand through residence and sport. He was raised Christian but no longer practises any religion. As of 2026, he is 36 years old.
Early Life and Family Background
Israel Adesanya was born the eldest of five. His dad, Femi, was an accountant, and his mum, Taiwo, a nurse. As a child, he tried Taekwondo but quit after breaking his arm. In 1999, his family moved to Ghana for about ten months before settling in Rotorua, New Zealand, so the kids could get a better education. He went to Rotorua Boys’ High School, where he wasn’t really into sports at first. Israel Adesanya loved Japanese anime like Death Note and manga like Naruto. He also got bullied at school, which later pushed him toward martial arts. One of his earliest influences was watching British boxer Prince Naseem Hamed, whose showmanship mesmerized him and stuck with him as inspiration.
After high school, he briefly studied computer design but dropped out at 20 to train full time. By 21, he was in Auckland at City Kickboxing with Eugene Bareman, learning MMA techniques like striking, wrestling, and submissions. His Nigerian roots and Kiwi upbringing shaped the flair he’s known for as “The Last Stylebender.”
He has four younger siblings. David handles his media, Samuel and Deborah went into nursing, and Bolu is a baker. His parents kept him grounded, and Israel often credits them, especially his mum, for shaping who he is.
Education
Israel Adesanya did his primary education at Chrisland School in Opebi, Ikeja, where he tried the Taekwondo after‑school club but stopped after an injury. He then attended Bells Secondary School in Ota, Ogun State, for part of his secondary education before his family moved abroad.
In 1999, at about 10, his family moved to Ghana for around ten months and then settled in Rotorua, New Zealand, so the children could get a more recognised education. He finished his secondary schooling at Rotorua Boys’ High School, where he was more into Japanese anime than sports and experienced bullying, which later influenced his interest in martial arts.
After high school, he enrolled at the Universal College of Learning in Whanganui to study a Bachelor of Science in Computer Design. Around 18, he started training in kickboxing after being inspired by a Muay Thai film and later left university to pursue combat sports professionally.
Career
Kickboxing Career
Israel Adesanya started out as a kickboxer before MMA. He fought internationally, racking up around 75 wins and 5 losses with nearly 30 knockouts, making a name for himself in Glory and other leagues as one of the most exciting strikers in the sport.
Early MMA Career
He made his professional MMA debut on 24 March 2012, stopping James Griffiths in the first round. After another win and a short break, he returned in 2015 and beat Song Kenan by TKO. Over the next few years, he went 8–0 in Oceania and China, winning the AFC Middleweight Championship with a first-round TKO over Melvin Guillard and the Hex Fight Series Middleweight title with a KO of Stuart Dare.
In December 2017, he signed with the UFC and debuted on 11 February 2018, defeating Rob Wilkinson by TKO. He followed that with wins over Marvin Vettori, Brad Tavares, and Derek Brunson. Early in 2019, he beat Anderson Silva and then fought Kelvin Gastelum for the interim middleweight title at UFC 236, winning by unanimous decision. Later that year, he unified the title by knocking out Robert Whittaker at UFC 243.
Title Defenses and Later Fights
He defended his middleweight belt against Yoel Romero in March 2020 and Paulo Costa in September 2020, winning both fights. In March 2021, he moved up to light heavyweight to challenge Jan Błachowicz but lost by decision.
Israel Adesanya then rematched Marvin Vettori and Robert Whittaker in 2021 and 2022, winning both fights. He beat Jared Cannonier in July 2022 but lost the title to Alex Pereira in November 2022. He reclaimed the belt from Pereira in April 2023 and then lost it to Sean Strickland in September 2023.
In August 2024, he lost to Dricus du Plessis via submission and then to Nassourdine Imavov in February 2025. He is scheduled to fight Joe Pyfer in March 2026.
Professional Boxing Career
Adesanya also had a brief professional boxing career. He debuted in November 2014 in the Super 8 tournament, losing a controversial decision to Daniel Ammann.
He returned in May 2015, knocked out Asher Derbyshire, won a majority decision over Lance Bryant, and defeated Brian Minto in the final. Later that year, he defended the Super 8 cruiserweight title by beating Zane Hopman and Lance Bryant.
Awards and Achievements
Israel Adesanya is one of the most decorated combat athletes of his generation. He dominated the Super 8 tournaments, winning the Super 8 III Cruiserweight eight-man tournament and the Super 8 IV Cruiserweight tournament. He also claimed the 2014 WMC Oceania Cruiserweight Championship, the 2014 WBC Muay Thai International Cruiserweight Championship, and the 2011 WKBF Muay Thai New Zealand Championship.
Israel Adesanya won multiple King in the Ring tournaments: 86 kg II in 2014, 86 kg III in 2015, and 100 kg II in 2015. He also won the 2016 Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament, and Combat Press named his fight against Alex Pereira Fight of the Year in 2017.
In the UFC, Adesanya is a two-time Middleweight Champion with five title defenses in his first reign and one interim title. He holds records for most knockdowns in Middleweight title fights and second most title fight wins behind Anderson Silva. Israel Adesanya earned Performance of the Night six times and Fight of the Night twice, tying for third-most post-fight bonuses, and has the second-longest winning streak and average fight time in Middleweight history.
He also won the AFC Middleweight Championship and the Hex Fighting Series Middleweight Championship outside the UFC.
Adesanya has been recognised across MMA media for his performances. He was UFC Newcomer of the Year in 2018, Fighter of the Year in 2019, and Knockout of the Year in 2023 vs. Alex Pereira. His fight against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 earned multiple Fight of the Year awards and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame Fight Wing in 2025. He was New Zealand Sportsman of the Year in 2019 and named Most Outstanding Fighter in 2019 and 2020, as well as Mixed Martial Arts Most Valuable and Best Box Office Draw in 2022.
Marital Status, Relationship, Children
Israel Adesanya is not married despite rumours about a wife named “Brenda Amezcua” or a son called “Josiah Adesanya.”
While he’s single, Adesanya has been linked to Australian model and influencer Shana Evers. They’ve been dating since around 2021.
Adesanya does not have any children. Shana Evers, however, has a daughter, Egypt Ratumaitavuki, from a previous relationship, and there’s no evidence linking Adesanya as her father.
Net Worth
Israel Adesanya’s net worth sits at about 4 million dollars in 2025. He rakes in most of it from UFC fights, with big matches bringing in millions thanks to pay‑per‑view cuts, win bonuses, and base pay. His UFC 287 bout against Alex Pereira reportedly pulled in 3.18 to 3.5 million dollars.
On top of that, he earns from sponsorships with Puma, Engage Fightwear, Stake, and Call of Duty, adding even more cash.
He also invests in real estate in New Zealand and beyond, runs merchandise and apparel lines, works on personal brand projects, and even dabbles in digital stuff like NFTs and crypto.