UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has revealed a challenging chapter in his career when he faced financial struggles after being defeated by Alex Pereira during his kickboxing tenure in China.
The Nigerian-born New Zealand UFC star and former middleweight champion, renowned for his flamboyant style and self-assuredness in the octagon, recounted an unexpected story of adversity on The JRE podcast, explaining how he ended up in a tough situation after the promotion he was with abruptly ceased to provide him with fights.
“When I was fighting in China and I lost to Alex, they stopped giving me fights. I think, at the time, I was the highest-paid foreign fighter in China, but then they stopped giving me fights,” Adesanya revealed.
He pleaded with the promotion, saying, “Look, I have seven more fights on my contract. Can I at least just get three? I just need three,” as his funds were rapidly depleting.
The circumstances grew increasingly dire for Adesanya, who found himself with only $500 left—hardly sufficient for a week’s worth of groceries. It was during this challenging time that his coach, Eugene Bareman, intervened to offer financial support.
Adesanya reflected on the touching moment when Bareman urged him to look at his bank balance, which moved the fighter to tears of appreciation.
This insight highlights the unpredictable journey of a fighter’s career and underscores the value of a strong support system. It stands in stark contrast to Adesanya’s recent UFC career, where he has both claimed and lost the middleweight title on several occasions.
Despite facing recent challenges, such as defeats against Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, ‘The Last Stylebender’ is not prepared to give up.
In a recent appearance on The Adam Carolla Show, Adesanya shared his ambition to compete again before the end of this year or at the start of the next.
“At the moment, I want to fight one more time before the end of this year, or early next year. But I don’t know yet. I’m just training, building off where we left off,” Adesanya stated.
The fighter openly discussed his recent defeat against du Plessis, acknowledging a strategic mistake when he gestured towards the ground after losing his footing.
As Adesanya plans his return, both fans and analysts are excited to discover what lies ahead for the versatile fighter who has demonstrated his strength and perseverance both inside and outside the octagon.
