Israel Adesanya Returns To Lagos After UFC Loss (PHOTOS)

Nigerian-born New Zealander and UFC middleweight fighter, Israel Adesanya, made a significant return to Lagos on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, just days after experiencing his fourth defeat in three years.

Adesanya, widely known as “The Last Stylebender,” was warmly welcomed at Murtala Muhammed Airport, with videos and photos of his arrival shared by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

EDITOR’S PICKS

• #Endbadgovernance: Organizers Plan Another Protests In October
• Abia Reps Member Defends Kalu Over Call For Gov. Otti To Join APC
• NLC Holds Emergency Meeting as Police Summon President, Joe Ajaero

EKO HOT BLOG reports that in an official statement on NiDCOM’s X (formerly Twitter) page, it was revealed that Adesanya was accompanied by his parents, who are both Nigerian.

The statement read: “Earlier today, Nigerian-born, New Zealand Professional Kickboxer, Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya (#stylebender) arrived in Lagos, accompanied by his parents and warmly received by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM staff.”

Adesanya’s return to his ancestral home comes shortly after his fourth-round submission loss to South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis in their middleweight title fight at UFC 305, held in Perth on Saturday, August 17, 2024.

This loss adds to a challenging period in Adesanya’s career, as he has now suffered four defeats between 2021 and 2024.

Adesanya first lost his UFC Middleweight title to underdog Sean Strickland in 2023, after which he took nearly a year-long break from the sport. He returned to the octagon with hopes of reclaiming his title against Du Plessis but was unable to secure a victory.

FURTHER READING

• NNPC Denies Subsidizing Petrol, Says Selling At Half Landing Cost
• Joao Felix Nears Chelsea Return With Long-Term Deal – Details
• Abia Reps Member Defends Kalu Over Call For Gov. Otti To Join APC

The 35-year-old Lagos-born fighter had previously enjoyed an impressive winning streak, recording 20 consecutive victories from 2012 to 2020, one of the longest in UFC history.

Despite his recent setbacks, Adesanya remains a celebrated figure in the world of mixed martial arts, and his return to Nigeria is seen as a significant moment for both his career and his connection to his roots.

Click here to watch our video of the week: