By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has opened up on a dark period in his career when he was left financially poor following a loss to Alex Pereira during his kickboxing days in China.
The Nigerian-born Kiwi UFC star and former middleweight champion, known for his flashy style and confidence in the octagon, shared a surprising tale of hardship on The JRE podcast, narrating how he found himself in dire straits after the promotion he was fighting for suddenly stopped offering him bouts.
“When I was fighting in China and I lost to Alex, they stopped giving me fights. I think, at the time, I was the highest-paid foreign fighter in China, but then they stopped giving me fights,” Adesanya revealed.
He pleaded with the promotion, saying, “Look, I have seven more fights on my contract. Can I at least just get three? I just need three,” as his funds were rapidly depleting.
The situation became so desperate that Adesanya was down to his last $500, barely enough to cover a week’s groceries. It was at this low point that his coach, Eugene Bareman, stepped in as a financial lifeline.
Adesanya recounted the emotional moment when Bareman instructed him to check his bank account, leaving the fighter in tears of gratitude.
This revelation sheds light on the unpredictable nature of a fighter’s career and the importance of having a supportive team. It also contrasts sharply with Adesanya’s recent high-profile UFC career, which has seen him win and lose the middleweight title multiple times.
Despite recent setbacks, including losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, ‘The Last Stylebender’ is not ready to throw in the towel.
In a recent interview on The Adam Carolla Show, Adesanya expressed his desire to fight once more before the year’s end or early next year.
“At the moment, I want to fight one more time before the end of this year, or early next year. But I don’t know yet. I’m just training, building off where we left off,” Adesanya stated.
The fighter also candidly addressed his recent loss to du Plessis, admitting to a tactical error when he pointed at the ground after slipping.
As Adesanya plots his comeback, fans and pundits alike are eager to see what the next chapter holds for the dynamic fighter who has proven his resilience both in and out of the octagon.