Every generation of MMA is defined by its champions. And in an era where the crown has never been heavier, one world-class striker based out of New Zealand has established an enviable reign of dominance while making it look effortless. Ahead of his highly-anticipated rematch against Australiaโs own Robert Whittaker at UFC 271, we spoke to current middleweight champion Israel โThe Last Stylebenderโ Adesanya about whoโs on his radar, what keeps the engine going, and his latest campaign with the Engage fight brand (of which heโs actually a part-owner) โ check out the BH interview below.
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BH Israel Adesanya Interview
How are you feeling ahead of what will probably be one of the most exciting UFC title fights all year long?
I said this pretty much all weekโฆ Iโm just practising patience, just taking my time. Not getting overly excited too quickly and just practising patience. The time will come when I get to dance when Robert [Whittaker] gets locked in a cage with me. Iโll express myself when I get excited but right now โ chill.
What can you tell us about the game plan?
Iโm looking forward to grappling, Iโm looking forward to exchanging and that part of martial arts with him, because he never felt me in the clinch or grapple at all in the first fight, so heโs going to be in for a rude awakening (like I said).
Speaking of grappling, congratulations are in order for receiving your purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Yeah, that was amazing. It was a surprise to get it in Atos Jiu-Jitsu in San Diego from [Andre] Galvao. It was a big deal for me.
Yeah, a purple belt is a big deal. A purple belt from Galvao is next level.
I was quite surprised that, umโฆ because Brad [Riddell] got his, and I was like: โFuck yeah, Brad deserves it.โ But he surprised me with mine. And Iโve been noticing my jiu-jitsu improved exponentially while I was there for six weeks or so, yeahโฆ Iโm a purple belt.
Recently, you revealed how you wanted to fight three times this year. After UFC 271, whoโs on your radar? It seems like aside from Whittaker, there isnโt anyone you really deem worthy.
Thatโs the challenge, though. Lapping the division. And that started with Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker. I also hope to get some new blood along the way. But weโll see what the lay of the land is after this weekend.
Youโve also recently explained how you were โboredโ during your bouts against Jan Blachowicz and Marvin Vettori while shutting the door on moving to welterweight for a super fight against Kamaru Usman.
Once again, post-UFC 271, what would it take to reignite that fire in your belly? Are we ever going to see you cross back to professional boxing (as with the current trend)?
Just keep doing what Iโm doing, that really gets me excited. Iโm not complacent, Iโm not bored like I was in my last fight. Yeahโฆ the challenge of lapping the division, I just signed a new deal with the UFC, I look forward to going back, and, uhโฆ yeah.
The challenge of doing what Iโm already doing is what excites me. I donโt want to get back into boxing. Thatโs a limited form of fighting. Just like any singular form of fighting. Whether it be jiu-jitsu or kickboxing or whatever, I want to be a fully-fledged martial artist. An artist. And to do that, legally, MMA is the way.
I know youโre probably tired of being asked this by now, but whatโs your take on the Paul brother era of combat sports?
Oh you mean with the Paul brothers [Jake & Logan Paul]. I like what theyโre doing. I like the fact that Jake and Logan are, you know, jumping into this. And even with Jake right now, championing the UFC fighters to get better pay. Heโs being a promoter right now, I think, he was in London or something โ promoting for a big womenโs fight.
Yeah. I also know Jake. Iโve talked to him extensively about this in the past, and I know how serious he takes it. Before that, I didnโt know anything about him. But when I talked to him after I commentated his fight, and when I saw how serious he took thisโฆ heโs crazy, but theyโre the ones who actually make it work.
So you view it as a net positive for the game if it means more eyeballs?
Yeah, as a whole, definitely. I think theyโre good for the game because people at the beginning will be like, yadda yadda ya. But you know, Jake can fight. Logan can fight. They might not have done this as kids like, say, the generic boxer who came from an impoverished background. But they both wrestled in high school, I believe. And they both know how to bang.
And they have the time and the money and the funds to be super professionals and train all day, and get the best treatment. So, yeahโฆ theyโre great at what they do when it comes to bringing eyes to combat sports. I love it, Iโm here for it.
On the same topic of igniting a fire in your belly and what this is all about, your latest campaign with Engage asks quite a pertinent question about what weโre all fighting for.
So I wanted to ask you, right now: what are you fighting for? Is it for legacy, the love of the game, is it โ to paraphrase Conor McGregor himself โ to continue being one of the last showmen in the UFC?
All of the above. And boatloads, truckloads, planeloads of money โ cargo loads of money. I love it. Thatโs secondary to the point. For me, itโs the love of the game. Iโm fresh, Iโm young, I love what Iโm doing. I love learning and I love expressing myself through fighting. And thatโs fun for me, so, I want to keep doing this. Thatโs what Iโm fighting for.
And what happens the day it stops being fun?
Iโm done. Thatโs literally it. When itโs no longer fun for me to go train and get beat up by my teammates or run hills on Eric Street โ thatโs never fun actually, but I love the challenge โ when itโs a drag, then Iโm like, โCoolโฆ Iโm done with this game.โ And then I move on to the next chapter of life.
If you could pick one UFC fighter for a dream fight at any time in history, who would it be?
I kinda already did it. I fought Anderson Silva. That wasโฆ historic. I never thought thatโd happen. That wouldโve been my dream fight and it happened. That was my dream and it was awesome.
And then there was that moment where it was like Gaara vs Rock Lee in Naruto.
Itโs crazy how life imitates art. It was surreal. The whole event for me was magical so, thatโs one for the history books. Thatโs a moment for life. Thatโs a moment for my lifetime.
Do you think Anderson Silva knew what Naruto was and anticipated it all?
Nah, he didnโt. Like I said, itโs life imitating art. So itโs crazy how he had the Gaara pose. Now he probably does know what Naruto is.
It was a pleasure speaking to a living legend like yourself, Mr Adesanya.
Thank youโฆ Iโll be a legend one day. Iโm still working on it.
