Nigerian-born New Zealander UFC middleweight fighter Israel Adesanya arrived in Lagos on Wednesday, August 21, days after losing his 4th fight in three years
Based on videos and pictures shared by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Israel Adesanya touched down at the Murtala Muhammed Airport to a rousing reception.
A statement on NiDCOM’s official X page announced that Adesanya was accompanied by his parents who are both Nigerians.
The statement reads: “Earlier today, Nigerian-born, New Zealand Professional Kickboxer, Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya (#stylebender) arrived in Lagos today, accompanied by his parents and warmly received by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM staff.”
Israel Adesanya’s return to his ancestral home comes after his fourth-round submission loss to South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis in their middleweight title showdown at UFC 305 in Perth on Saturday night, August 17, 2024.
Recall that Adesanya lost the UFC Middleweight title to underdog Sean Strickland in 2023, went on almost a year break from the game, and returned to challenge for the title against Du Plessis. Unfortunately, he failed to return to winning ways.
The 35-year-old Lagos-born Mixed Martial Artist has now lost four fights between 2021 to 2024. Before things turned this bad for the “Last Stylebender”, he enjoyed one of the longest winning runs in the history of the UFC. Adesanya recorded 20 straight wins from 2012 to 2020.