UFC middleweight star Israel Adesanya has addressed the recurring viral story that claims his ex-girlfriend sought a financial settlement following their breakup. He called the reports “fake news” and asking fans to leave his former partner alone.
During a recent podcast appearance with former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, Adesanya was directly asked about the story that resurfaces every 18 months with new details. Adesanya appeared frustrated by the persistent narrative, explaining his reluctance to address it publicly.
“I don’t like talking about it because if I say something, it gives it life,” Adesanya explained. “She never asked for fame. No one ever did. I prepared for this life. I was ready for this life. I tried to let her know like you don’t want to be in the spotlight because I prepared for this. But then things happened, we’re not together. Now this has happened. But that’s just fake news. It’s a slow news day.”
The story appears to have originated from comparisons between Adesanya and a football player who allegedly put his money in his mother’s name before a divorce settlement. However, Adesanya dismissed these comparisons entirely, stating he doesn’t know where the connection came from.
“Whatever reason they started comparing me to this other guy, the football player who put all his money in his mom’s name and then she divorced, ‘you owe me money from.’ But I don’t know where that came from. It’s just a slow news day. People just went with it,” he said.
What bothers Adesanya most is the impact on his former partner and her family. The former middleweight champion emphasized his desire to protect their privacy, saying, “It’s not even about me. It’s about them. I just want them to just leave them alone. Let them live their life. It’s not just about me and their family as well.”
Adesanya revealed that his most recent breakup was actually handled maturely and amicably. “My last girlfriend was the best breakup I ever had as well,” he shared, describing how he took her on a holiday to Tahiti to end things properly. “It was smooth the way we kind of just ended it because she’s mature. She understood the business. She understood what I was doing.”
The UFC star has remained single for the past three and a half years, focusing on his career and personal growth. He spoke candidly about his approach to relationships now, emphasizing honesty above all else.
“I don’t lie to women anymore. I’m not emotionally available,” Adesanya stated bluntly. “I just tell them what it is. If it hurts them, if it hurts me, if it ends it, as long as I say what it is, then they know what they’re getting into. So then there’s no victims. There’s only volunteers.”
Despite the recurring false narratives, Adesanya remains focused on his combat career and maintaining his privacy.
