“Middleweight, I’m the new dog in the yard,” with this statement, Israel Adesanya made the whole world aware of the jaw-dropping future set to unfold in the UFC. This proved true as ‘The Last Stylebender’ rapidly ascended and became the middleweight GOAT. However, this is not where he cemented his name in combat sports. The journey goes way back to his kickboxing days. While fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev were wrestling champions, Adesanya made his name in kickboxing. But how good was he? Let’s find out.
IAdesanya is an absolute beast when it comes to fighting records, no matter where he fights. ‘The Last Stylebender‘ has 24 wins in the MMA circuit and only took three losses. But when it comes to kickboxing, ‘Izzy’ really flexes. He has a solid 80 kickboxing bouts and has walked away with 75 wins. So, he technically lost just five times in his kickboxing career. And if that wasn’t enough to impress, he has KO’d his opponents 27 times.
During his kickboxing days, Adesanya cemented his class in the Glory Championship, proving he was top-tier. He became a title challenger but took a loss against Jason Wilnis—a match that’s still up for debate. But the real game-changer came when Adesanya lost to Alex Pereira. That fight set the stage for one of the UFC’s biggest rivalries.
Israel Adesanya Vs. Alex Pereira: Goes Back To Kickboxing Days
After the second loss to Pereira, ‘Izzy’ made a switch to the UFC in 2017 and fought against Rob Wilkinson. Fight after fight, he proved his worth in the division and finally became the champion. Fast forward to 2021, Pereira made his UFC debut. After just three fights, thanks to their history, ‘Poatan’ got a title shot really soon. ‘Izzy’ challenged him to avenge the loss against the guy who famously said, “I beat that guy once.”
Their fight was a shocker—Pereira again handed ‘Izzy’ a loss at UFC 281. But Adesanya bounced back, reclaiming his title just six events later on April 8, 2023. With that win, he finally found some peace. Their kickboxing history, which made all the drama possible for fans, fueled the iconic rivalry between them.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
Also Read: Is Dricus Du Plessis In a Relationship? Everything About His Partner Vasti Spiller
