UFC Israel Adesanya explains facing death to become Middleweight champion

Israel Adesanya explains the death path to becoming Middleweight Champion in 2019

Nigerian and New Zealand professional mixed martial artist Israel Mobolaji Adesanya continues to bolster his legacy in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

The 33-year-old reclaimed the UFC Middleweight title by defeating Brazilian professional mixed martial artist Alexsandro Pereira on Sunday, April 9, 2023.

Still celebrating his latest success, Adesanya also became UFC Middleweight champion this week four years ago.

Israel Adesanya celebrates victory against Kelvin Gastelum

Adesanya joined the UFC in early 2018 and just a year later became king of the Middleweight division.

Adesanya defeated Rob Wilkinson, Marvin Vettori, Brad Tavares, Derek Brunson, and Anderson Silva to become the number-one contender in the Middleweight division.

In the absence of Robert Whittaker, Adesanya faced off against American professional mixed martial artist of Mexican descent Kelvin Gastelum for the Middleweight title.

Adesanya and Gastelum went the distance fighting in the UFC 236 co-main event at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia,

Adesanya emerged the winner via unanimous decision via the judges' scorecard after five rounds of boxing on April 13, 2019.

Israel Adesanya celebrates 4-year anniversary of becoming UFC Middleweight champion

The Last Style Bender took to social media to celebrate the fourth year of getting to the pinnacle of the UFC Middleweight division,

He posted a video of the fight against Gastelum where he made one of his viral statements about being ready to die to emerge winner of the clash.

As the pivotal fifth round began, Adesanya was overheard encouraging himself, saying: "I have no problem. I'm prepared to die. I'm prepared to."

Adesanya in the post on his official social media platforms celebrated the occasion with a video and talked about facing death to become UFC Middlweight champion.

He said, "On this day in 2019 I became the Undisputed UFC Middleweight Champion. 

"A battle for the ages that will be talked about forever in sports. 

"In this fight, I had to go to “that place”, I was prepared to die in the octagon that night. 

"Accepting my mortality in that moment unlocked the beast within and I had to fight to truly live!

"What a fucking BANGER!!! Shoutout to @kgastelum for being a hard-headed Mexican who had bricks for fists and the fighting spirit of a Mexican warrior on full display!! What a moment in time… What a life!." 

Background

Adesanya has since the victory against Gastelum reigned as champion until November of last year when Pereira recorded a stoppage against the Nigerian superstar in the main event of UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Adesanya has now avenged the loss to Pereira and aims to start a new streak as Middleweight champion given that Poatan will no longer compete in the division but will naturally upgrade to the 205-pound light heavyweight.

After the victory against Pereira, Adesanya had harsh words for South African contender Dricus Du Plessis who earlier questioned his authenticity as an African.

It is now expected that Adesanya returns against Du Plessis with the champion eager to make the fight in Nigeria or South Africa.

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