How many belts does Israel Adesanya have? – Israel Adesanya is a Nigerian-born New Zealand professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer, who currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He was born on July 22, 1989, in Lagos, Nigeria.

Israel Adesanya grew up in Nigeria and attended Chrisland School, Opebi, Lagos, for his primary education, and then attended Chrisland College, Idimu, Lagos, for his secondary education. Adesanya began training in kickboxing at the age of 18 when he moved to New Zealand to pursue a career in martial arts.

Israel Adesanya began his professional kickboxing career in 2011, and he amassed a record of 32 wins and five losses over the next seven years. In 2017, he made his mixed martial arts debut in the AFC promotion, where he won his first fight by TKO in the second round. Adesanya signed with the UFC in December 2017.

In his UFC debut, Israel Adesanya defeated Rob Wilkinson via TKO in the second round. He went on to win his next four fights, including a unanimous decision victory over Brad Tavares in July 2018, which earned him his first UFC Performance of the Night bonus. In February 2019, Adesanya headlined his first UFC event, where he defeated former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva by unanimous decision.

In April 2019, Israel Adesanya fought Kelvin Gastelum for the interim UFC middleweight championship in what was widely regarded as one of the greatest fights in UFC history. Adesanya won the fight by unanimous decision and was later awarded the UFC’s Fight of the Year for 2019.

In October 2019, Adesanya fought Robert Whittaker for the undisputed UFC middleweight championship in front of a record-breaking crowd of over 57,000 people in Melbourne, Australia. Adesanya won the fight by knockout in the second round, becoming the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.

Adesanya defended his title twice in 2020, defeating Yoel Romero by unanimous decision in March and Paulo Costa by TKO in the second round in September. In March 2021, Adesanya moved up to the light heavyweight division to challenge champion Jan Blachowicz for the title but lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Outside of fighting, Adesanya has been involved in various creative pursuits, including fashion design and acting. He has also been an advocate for mental health awareness and has been open about his own struggles with depression and anxiety.

Adesanya currently resides in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Nigerian descent and is proud of his heritage, often incorporating Nigerian culture and symbolism into his walkout gear and fight attire. Adesanya is also an avid gamer and has competed in esports events.

How many belts does Israel Adesanya have?

Israel Adesanya is a highly accomplished mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has achieved great success in both MMA and kickboxing throughout his career.

In the UFC, Adesanya has made a name for himself as one of the top middleweight fighters in the world. He has held the UFC Middleweight Championship twice, first winning the belt in October 2019 when he knocked out Robert Whittaker in the second round. Adesanya then went on to successfully defend his title three times against top contenders in the division.

Adesanya also has a background in kickboxing, where he was a former challenger for the Glory Middleweight Championship title. His impressive kickboxing record includes a total of 75 fights, with 64 wins and 11 losses. Adesanya was also a two-weight champion in the Glory Kickboxing organization, holding the middleweight and interim light heavyweight titles.

As of November 14, 2022, Adesanya is currently ranked #1 in the UFC middleweight rankings, indicating his position as the top contender in the division. Additionally, as of March 21, 2023, he is ranked #5 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, which is a ranking of the best fighters regardless of weight class. This is a testament to Adesanya’s skill and dominance in the sport.

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