Israel Adesanya Opens Up About His Financial Struggles
- Home
- Israel Adesanya Opens Up About His Financial Struggles
Israel Adesanya Opens Up About His Financial Struggles
Before UFC glory, ‘The Last Stylebender’ battled poverty and uncertainty in China.
In a candid conversation on The Joe Rogan Experience, UFC superstar Israel Adesanya revealed a harrowing chapter of his life—one marked by financial hardship and emotional turmoil, long before he became one of the most recognizable champions in the sport.
A Dark Period in China
Adesanya recounted his time as a kickboxer in China, where his promising career hit an unexpected standstill after a loss to longtime rival Alex Pereira. Despite being the highest-paid foreign fighter in the country, the promotion inexplicably stopped offering him fights, leaving him stuck in a limbo with no way to earn.
“I had seven fights left on my contract, but they just stopped giving me fights,” Adesanya explained. “I begged them, ‘Give me three fights, I just need three.’ But they wouldn’t. I was completely stuck.”
From Prosperity to Desperation
As the offers dried up, so did Adesanya’s savings. With only $500 to his name—barely enough to buy groceries—he was forced to confront the possibility that his dreams might be slipping away.
“It was hard,” Adesanya said, reflecting on those difficult days. “But quitting was never an option.”
A Journey of Resilience and Redemption
Rather than giving in to despair, Adesanya pushed forward, eventually making the leap to the UFC. There, his charisma and electrifying fighting style catapulted him to the top of the middleweight division, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s greats.
His story is a testament to the power of perseverance. From a bleak moment on the other side of the world to reigning atop the UFC, Adesanya’s journey resonates far beyond the octagon.
- Share
