Nigerian-born UFC star Israel Adesanya has shared insights into his journey to becoming a professional fighter and offered advice to aspiring athletes. Speaking at a Celestial Church of Christ service in Lagos, Adesanya, known as the Last Stylebender, encouraged young athletes not to merely follow in his footsteps but to carve out their own unique paths.
Adesanya reflected on his decision to pursue a career in fighting, revealing that it was driven by a personal need to defend himself. He said, “I was just standing up for myself. It was what it took to learn how to fight and eventually, I realized I was good at it and I took it as a career and it worked out well so far.”
He emphasized the role of faith in his career, stating, “Faith is something you have to have in this life. You can’t walk by sight; you have to walk by faith. Faith has guided me a lot through my life and not just my career alone.” Adesanya stressed that faith, alongside rigorous training and hard work, has been crucial in his journey.
Regarding advice for future athletes, Adesanya said, “Don’t try and follow in my footsteps. I’d say create your path. Get inspiration from someone like myself and what I have done and use it to further yourself in your own life.” He believes that while emulating successful figures can be motivating, it is more valuable to use their achievements as a source of inspiration rather than a blueprint.
Despite his recent loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, Adesanya received a warm welcome in Lagos and visited his hometown of Esa-Oke in Osun State. He was seen enjoying Lagos nightlife and engaging with fans and celebrities on social media.
Adesanya’s bout with Du Plessis was notable as the first UFC title fight between two African fighters. Although Adesanya lost the match, he reportedly earned a substantial purse of $750,000, surpassing Du Plessis’ $500,000.
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