)
'History favors the bold' - Adesanya remembers the time there were 3 African champions in the UFC.
New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, and kickboxer of Nigerian descent Israel Mobolaji Adesanya has issued a statement of support to his colleagues Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou.
Adesanya, Usman, and Ngannou once held three divisional belts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
35-year-old Nigerian and American Usman was the first to lose his welterweight UFC title when he was knocked out by Leon Edwards at the Vivint Arena in Utah, Salt Lake back in August 2022.
Adesanya followed as he lost his UFC Middleweight title following a knockout loss to Brazilian Alex Pereira at Madison Square Garden back in November 2022.
Now UFC president Dana White announced that Cameroonian-French star Ngannou has been stripped of the heavyweight title as he could not reach an agreement over a contract extension.
)
Adesanya sends message to Usman and Ngannou
The exit of Ngannou coupled with defeats to Adesanya and Usman means that there are no longer African champions in the UFC.
Adesanya took to social media to send a message to Usman and Ngannou on their reign as champions in the UFC.
The style bender posted photos of Usman and Ngannou visiting him before his last fight against Pereira.
A message along with the photos said, "History favors the bold, make sure HIS STORY gets told.
"As for Us…this will age well, because black don’t crack!."
Ngannou has declared upon his departure from the UFC that he intends to take his talents to the world of boxing.
)
The Predator as Ngannou is known has called out top British fighters WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua for his boxing debut.
The Nigerian Nightmare as Usman is known is set for a third fight against Edwards in London scheduled for March 2023.
Adesanya is recovering from injury and is expected to return to the octagon later in the year.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)