Training footage of UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya resurfaced online. The video showed 25-year-old Adesanya training before beating three opponents in one night.
Israel Adesanya is arguably the best striker in the UFC right now. ‘The Last Stylebender’ honed his striking skill through his kickboxing career from 2010. Adesanya competed in various promotions including Glory Kickboxing and became middleweight champion in 2016.
It’s no secret that Adesanya was a champion in that famous kickboxing promotion. However, few know that the Nigerian born athlete also used to compete in boxing while still being active as a kickboxer. He was even featured in an event where he faced three opponents on the same night.
Recently, old footage of Adesanya doing boxing drills resurfaced online. The footage was from way back in 2015, one week before Super 8 Boxing Tournament III in his home country New Zealand.
In the 1 minute footage, the New Zealander can be seen training through various methods to improve his punches, footwork, and head movement.
All matches were booked for three rounds. His first opponent was Asher Derbyshire where he knocked the guy out in the second round. Next was Lance Bryant where Adesanya won via majority decision. The last one was former WBO title challenger Brian Minto where Adesanya won via unanimous decision.
The 33-year-old competed in boxing again several months later. He faced two opponents in one night – Zane Hopman and Lance Bryant – where he won via unanimous decision.
Adesanya started his professional mixed martial arts career in 2012 but started exclusively competing when he joined the UFC in 2017. He found great success that led him to become UFC middleweight champion.
He is now slated to defend his title for the 6th time against his longtime kickboxing rival Alex Pereira. The pair will share the octagon at UFC 281 in November this year.