Israel Adesanya is a professional MMA fighter who began his career as a kickboxer before transitioning to the UFC, where he has achieved remarkable success. Competing in the Middleweight division, Adesanya has held the UFC Middleweight Championship twice. In December 2017, Adesanya signed a contract with the UFC, marking the beginning of his journey in the promotion. So, let’s check out more about the champion.
Is Israel Adesanya Still a Champion?
Adesanya currently does not hold the title, but his tenure as the UFC Middleweight Champion was remarkable, spanning 1,134 days. He defended his title five times, facing and defeating a formidable lineup of challengers, including Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier.
However, Adesanya’s reign ended when he lost the title to Alex Pereira. Undeterred, Adesanya later regained the Middleweight Championship in a spectacular knockout victory over Pereira in their rematch. Unfortunately, his second reign as champion was short-lived, as he again lost the title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
Despite experiencing some highs and lows, Adesanya’s dominance during his initial championship reign and his skill in reclaiming the title highlights his exceptional talent and position as one of the top fighters in the UFC Middleweight division.
It has been six months since he lost the UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland, but he is now set to face the reigning champion, Dricus du Plessis, on August 18 at UFC 305 in Perth. Adesanya will have another chance to become the world champion, and only time will reveal the outcome of this fight.
Also Read: Dricus Du Plessis Hails ‘Absolute Monster’ Alex Pereira as ‘One of the All-Time Greats’
