How Did Israel Adesanya Get Gynecomastia?

Benny A. King

Adesanya’s gynecomastia problem seems to be re-emerging ahead of his upcoming title defense.

Just weeks ahead of his rematch against Robert Whittaker, Adesanya’s gynecomastia problem is apparently back.

In a post by UFC lightweight Dan Hooker on Instagram. Israel is seen shirtless after a training session, and his gyno problem seems very apparent with the sagging present on one side.

Israel’s ‘chest’ issue first became noticeable back at UFC 253 in September of 2020. Adesanya had a clear lump back then – that was apparent during the walkout.

At the time the middleweight champion Israel Adesanya had one of the best performances of his career.

The Nigerian fighter made easy work of his rival Paulo Costa and won the fight with an outstanding knockout sequence in the second round.

However, his performance was not the only thing that had people talking after the fight. Israel had an unusual lump in his chest area. Around his right chest, Israel appeared to be suffering from gynecomastia.

Gynecomastia is an abnormal non-cancerous enlargement of one or both breasts in males due to the growth of breast tissue as a result of a hormone imbalance between estrogen and androgen.

And when an MMA fighter is suffering from hormonal imbalance, there is only one thing that comes to everyone’s mind… PEDs, right?

Well, no. Not according to Adesanya himself. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, the middleweight champion disclosed:

“My pituitary gland was checked, hormone levels are fine, estrogen and testosterone. Yesterday we had an ultrasound and a mammogram. I had one for the first time. To be honest it might have just been unhealthy living a little bit. Like smoking weed, that’s what the doctor from the UFC said. He said I need to stop but I’m not stopping, I’m just going to slow down on the smoking weed.”

At that same interview, Israel denied the PED accusation by saying:

“F— no! F— No! I’m not one of those people who needs a crutch… skills pay the bills.”

“You know what Ariel, with a performance like I’ve had, I would think I was on f—–g steroids too.”

After the Costa fight, Adesanya fought Jan Blochowicz and Martin Vettori, and at those fights, his chest ‘issues’ seemed to have gone away, however, recent pictures of the champion beg to differ.

Adesanya was also challenged on this explanation.