You’ve seen Israel Adesanya dominating the UFC middleweight division and wondering how much cash the charismatic kickboxer turned MMA fighter is raking in.
As one of the reigning UFC middleweight champions and one of the biggest stars in combat sports, Israel Adesanya’s net worth and salary are pretty sizable. Between his UFC fight purses, performance bonuses, endorsements, and other business ventures, Israel Adesanya has built up an impressive fortune and cemented his status as one of the richest MMA fighters in the world. Want to know exactly how much Israel Adesanya’s Net worth is and how he earned his millions? We’ve got you covered.
Who is Israel Adesanya?
Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya was born on the 22nd of July 1989. Israel Adesanya is a New Zealand professional MMA fighter, kickboxer, and former boxer with multiple championships in all three disciplines. As a mixed martial artist, he now fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight division, where he is the previous two-time UFC Middleweight Champion.
He was a former Glory Middleweight Championship title challenger in kickboxing. He is currently ranked #5 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings as of March 21, 2023. Adesanya is known for his charismatic personality and exciting fighting style; Adesanya joined the UFC in 2018. He quickly rose up the ranks, earning Performance of the Night awards in his first 3 fights.
Adesanya enjoys dancing and has participated in numerous dance competitions in New Zealand before starting his professional fighting career. Adesanya, who has a liking for anime, has stated that after his fighting career is done, he plans to start an anime production firm. Adesanya speaks Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and English fluently.
What Is Israel Adesanya’s Net Worth in 2023?
So, what is Israel Adesanya’s net worth in 2023? As of early 2023, Israel Adesanya’s net worth is estimated to be $4 million. The bulk of Israel Adesanya’s net worth comes from his career as a professional MMA fighter in the UFC. His UFC salary is $1,000,000 base pay for every one of his fights. He also earns from bonuses, pay-per-view points, and endorsement deals.
With more championship fights and endorsements on the horizon, Israel Adesanya’s net worth is poised to increase significantly in the coming years. The 34-year-old UFC star is currently at the peak of his career and shows no signs of slowing down. If he continues his winning ways, Adesanya can cement himself as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
Israel Adesanya’s Salary
Israel Adesanya’s UFC contract and endorsements have significantly contributed to his impressive net worth. According to several reports, Israel Adesanya’s salary is estimated to be $1,000,000 for UFC fights. His pay-per-view earnings also add to his total income.
For example, at UFC 243, Israel Adesanya reportedly left the event with the largest payment, taking home $1,542,000. The Kiwi received a pay-per-view share worth $500,000 and a base salary of $1,000,000 as part of his reward. He received $42,000 from Venum in addition to payments from the UFC. He likely earned even more from his sponsorship deals for that fight. Some of Adesanya’s major sponsors include Puma, Monster Energy, Myprotein, and Hyperice. Adesanya earned $3,180,000 in his fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 287.
Israel Adesanya’s net worth is projected to continue rising thanks to future fights on his UFC contract, pay-per-view bonuses, and sponsorship deals. His charismatic personality and exciting fighting style make him an attractive athlete for major brands to partner with.
With each win inside the Octagon, especially title defenses, Israel Adesanya’s pay and net worth are expected to increase substantially. His reported multi-fight UFC contract and growing global stardom will likely translate to bigger paydays and more sponsorship opportunities over the coming years. Adesanya’s net worth could realistically reach eight figures if he remains champion and continues his winning ways.
Israel Adesanya’s Background, Career, and Rise to Fame
Israel Adesanya was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on July 22, 1989. He is the eldest of five children. Adesanya attended Chrisland School in Opebi and participated in its Taekwondo after-school club until he was removed by his mother due to an injury. In 1999, he relocated to Ghana with his family for 10 months, then to Rotorua, New Zealand, when he was 10 years old. He grew up in Rotorua, New Zealand, and attended Rotorua Boys’ High School.
Adesanya was bullied in high school and credits his desire to pursue martial arts later in life to the maltreatment he endured. Adesanya enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Computer Design program at the Universal College of Learning in Whanganui after graduating from high school.
An Overview of Israel Adesanya’s Career
Adesanya started training in kickboxing at age 18 after being inspired by the Muay Thai film Ong-Bak. Two years later, Adesanya decided to discontinue his studies in order to pursue a career in kickboxing, and he went on to accumulate a 32-0 amateur record before going professional and competing in China.
Adesanya relocated to Auckland, New Zealand, at the age of 21 and began training in mixed martial arts under Eugene Bareman at City Kickboxing with future UFC fighters Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France, and current UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski. Andrei Păuleţ, a Romanian New Zealander, coaches him in wrestling.
Adesanya began his professional kickboxing career in China with the ‘Kunlun Fight’ promotion. After being eliminated in the semifinals of the 2014 Kunlun Fight 80 kg tournament, ‘Izzy’ moved on to Glory Kickboxing, a well-known kickboxing promotion. That’s where he met his fiercest rival, Alex Pereira, and lost to him twice.
He amassed an impressive kickboxing record of 75 wins and only 5 losses over the next 6 years, gaining experience and building his striking skills. His kickboxing success and exciting fighting style gained the attention of international promotions. His flashy kickboxing style and charismatic personality earned him the nickname “The Last Stylebender.” Adesanya’s kickboxing success and potential in MMA made him an intriguing free agent.
Adesanya competed in the Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament in 2016. In the semifinals, he defeated Robert Thomas by a unanimous decision, and he won the championship by a split decision over Yousri Belgaroui. At Glory 37: Los Angeles, he faced Jason Wilnis for the Glory Middleweight championship. Wilnis won the fight by unanimous decision, though the outcome was disputed.
His last kickboxing fight before switching to MMA was a rematch with Alex Pereira at Glory of Heroes 7. Pereira won the fight by knockout after dropping Adesanya in the third round with a short left hook.
In his professional mixed martial arts career, Adesanya made his professional debut in 2012, defeating James Griffiths via TKO. He won another TKO fight against John Vake before taking a two-year break from MMA. He returned to MMA in August 2015, winning by TKO against Song Kenan. He went on to have an 8-0 record, largely fighting in the Oceanian and Chinese circuits. During this time, he won the AFC Middleweight Championship at Australia Fighting Championship 20 by TKO in the first round over Melvin Guillard, as well as the Hex Fight Series Middleweight Championship by KO in the first round against Stuart Dare.
It was announced in December 2017 that Adesanya had signed a contract with the UFC. On February 11, 2018, he made his MMA debut against Rob Wilkinson at UFC 221. He won by technical knockout in the second round.
In November 2014, Adesanya made his professional boxing debut against two-time Australian champion Daniel Ammann. He received one of two wildcards to the inaugural cruiserweight Super 8 Boxing Tournament.
Israel Adesanya’s UFC Record
UFC 293 (8/9/23) Adesanya lost his UFC middleweight title to Sean Strickland
UFC 287 (4/8/23) Adesanya knocked out Alex Pereira at 4:21 of the second round, regaining his UFC middleweight title
UFC 281 (11/12/22) Adesanya was stopped by Alex Pereira via strikes at 2:01 of the fifth round, losing the UFC middleweight title
UFC 276 (7/2/22) Adesanya won a five-round unanimous decision over Jared Cannonier to retain his UFC middleweight title
UFC 271 (2/12/22) Adesanya won a five-round unanimous decision over Robert Whittaker to retain his UFC middleweight title
UFC 263 (6/12/21) Adesanya won a five-round unanimous decision over Marvin Vettori to retain his UFC middleweight title
UFC 259 (3/6/21) Adesanya lost a five-round unanimous decision to Jan Blachowicz in a fight for the UFC light heavyweight title
UFC 253 (9/27/20) Adesanya stopped Paulo Costa via strikes at 3:59 of the second round to retain his UFC middleweight title
UFC 248 (3/7/20) Adesanya won a five-round unanimous decision over Yoel Romero to retain his UFC middleweight title
UFC 243 (10/6/19) Adesanya knocked out Robert Whittaker at 3:33 of the second round to unify the UFC middleweight title and become undisputed champion
UFC 236 (4/13/19) Adesanya won a five-round unanimous decision over Kelvin Gastelum to win the interim UFC middleweight title
UFC 234 (2/10/19) Adesanya won a three-round unanimous decision over Anderson Silva
UFC 230 (11/3/18) Adesanya stopped Derek Brunson via strikes at 4:51 of the first round
TUF 27 Finale (7/6/18) Adesanya won a five-round unanimous decision over Brad Tavares
UFC on FOX (4/14/18) Adesanya won a three-round split decision over Marvin Vettori
UFC 221 (2/11/18) Adesanya stopped Rob Wilkinson via strikes at 3:37 of the second round
Israel Adesanya Latest Fight – September 9th 2023
Sean Strickland won the middleweight title over Israel Adesanya on Saturday in Sydney, Australia, in a major shock.
At UFC 293, the 32-year-old exhibited relentless offensive movement with strong defense and clinical output. As a result, the American defeated Adesanya 49-46 on all three scorecards. Strickland downed the Nigerian-New Zealander in the opening round with a picture-perfect right cross. Adesanya spun to the canvas before attempting a finish.
Strickland, on the other hand, was unable to score the knockout blow, as Adesanya survived to the final bell. The subsequent rounds were close, but Strickland seemed to be one step ahead of Adesanya, who congratulated his tearful conqueror when the result was announced.
Israel Adesanya’s Lifestyle and Assets
Israel Adesanya lives a lavish lifestyle thanks to his successful MMA career and brand endorsements.
Assets
Israel presently resides in Auckland, New Zealand, although it is unknown whether he owns a home there. However, there were allegations in 2019 that he was investing in some residential projects on Whanganui Liverpool Street in New Zealand.
He also owns luxury cars like a Nissan SUV, McLaren 720S, Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV, and a Range Rover.
Outside the Octagon, Israel earns a significant income from major brand sponsorships and partnerships. He has deals with PUMA, Stake, BMW, Monster Energy, and Myprotein. He also partnered with “Call Of Duty” and “Engage Clothing” for limited edition collections. His Puma contract is one of the largest for any UFC fighter. These endorsements contribute substantially to Israel’s annual salary and growing net worth, allowing him to live comfortably and focus on his training and fighting.
Israel Adesanya’s Charity Work
Israel Adesanya is known for his charitable work and contributions. Adesanya’s life of luxury did not make him forget about the less fortunate. He is a regular donor to a variety of wonderful causes, although he prefers to keep them to himself. Izzy also avoids making substantial donations to large organizations because they may become public information. Instead, he likes to assist smaller firms.
He once revealed, “My sister, who is a nurse, was telling me about the hospital needing beds,” I paid $20,000 to assist them, and they received a few new beds – more than a few new beds.”
In the fight against COVID-19, Adesanya also donated 10,000 three-ply face masks and 1,000 eye protection face shields for Whanganui’s frontline health professionals.
Adesanya is passionate about paving the way for future generations and giving back to the community that shaped him. Though his star has risen quickly in the UFC, he has stayed grounded and devoted to creating opportunities for others.
Israel Adesanya’s Girlfriend
Although ‘Izzy’ has never been public about his relationships, he dropped a hint to his observant admirers when he posted photos of himself with a lady. Fans later recognized her as Shana Evers, a well-known Australian model.
Adesanya and Evers follow each other on Instagram. The rumors regarding their connection began when Adesanya liked and commented on Evers’s post on September 1, 2021. Although ‘Izzy’ has not shown a wish to reveal his relationship, it is known that the couple is not married and does not have any children together.
Adesanya’s Awards and Accomplishments
Israel Adesanya has achieved immense success in his mixed martial arts career, racking up an impressive number of accomplishments and awards along the way. According to Wikipedia, here are his Championships and accomplishments:
Championships and accomplishments
Boxing
Super 8 Boxing Tournament
- Super 8 III Cruiserweight Champion (eight man Tournament)
- Super 8 IV Cruiserweight Champion (four man Tournament)
Kickboxing
King in the Ring
- King in the Ring 86 kg II Champion (Eight-Man Tournament)
- King in the Ring 86 kg III Champion (Eight-Man Tournament)
- King in the Ring 100kgs II Champion (Eight-Man Tournament)
Glory
- 2016 Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament Winner (Four-Man Tournament)
Awards
Combat Press
- 2017 Fight of the Year (vs. Alex Pereira)
Mixed martial arts
Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Middleweight Championship (Two times)
- Five successful title defenses
- The first two-time UFC Middleweight champion
- Interim UFC Middleweight Championship (One time)
- Most knockdowns in a UFC title fight (4) vs Kelvin Gastelum
- Second most title fight wins in UFC Middleweight division history (8)
- Second most knockdowns in UFC title fights (9)
- Performance of the Night (Six times) vs. Rob Wilkinson, Brad Tavares, Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa and Alex Pereira
- Tied (Francis Ngannou, Anthony Smith & Kevin Holland) for sixth-most Performance of the Night bonuses in UFC history (6)
- Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Anderson Silva and Kelvin Gastelum
- Tied (Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker) for second-most Post-Fight bonuses in UFC Middleweight division history (8)
- Tied (Anderson Silva) for most knockdowns in UFC Middleweight division history (13)
- Second longest winning streak in UFC Middleweight division history (12)
- Longest average fight time in UFC Middleweight division history (17:49)
- Third most total fight time in UFC Middleweight division history (4:27:22)
- Second most significant strikes landed in UFC Middleweight division history (1070)
Australian Fighting Championship
- AFC Middleweight Champion
Hex Fighting Series Middleweight
- Hex Fighting Series Middleweight Champion
MMAJunkie.com
- 2018 Newcomer of the Year
- 2019 April Fight of the Month vs. Kelvin Gastelum
- 2019 Fight of the Year vs. Kelvin Gastelum
- 2019 Male Fighter of the Year
- 2023 April Knockout of the Month vs. Alex Pereira
MMA Fighting
- 2018 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
- 2019 Fight of the Year vs. Kelvin Gastelum
- 2019 Fighter of the Year
CombatPress.com
- 2018 Breakout Fighter of the Year
- 2019 Male Fighter of the Year
- 2019 Fight of the Year vs. Kelvin Gastelum
CagesidePress.com
- 2019 Fighter of the Year
- 2019 Fight of the Year vs. Kelvin Gastelum
MMADNA.nl
- 2018 Rising Star of the Year
The Body Lock
- 2019 Fighter of the Year
World MMA Awards
- 2018 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
- 2019 – July 2020 Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year
- 2019 – July 2020 International Fighter of the Year
- 2021 International Fighter of the Year
- The voting period for 2019 awards ran from January 2019 to July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, the voting period for 2021 awards ran from July 2020 to July 2021.
MMAMania.com
- 2019 Fighter of the Year[149]
- 2019 Fight of the Year vs. Kelvin Gastelum
Halberg Awards
- 2019 New Zealand Sportsman of the Year
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year (2019, 2020)
- MMA Match of the Year (vs. Kelvin Gastelum, 2019)
Frequently asked questions about Israel Adesanya
Here are some of the most asked questions about Israel Adesanya and their answers.
Is Israel Adesanya a billionaire?
Not yet. While Israel Adesanya has amassed an impressive net worth through his UFC career, he is not currently a billionaire. His total career earnings are estimated to be around $4 million. However, with more championship wins and endorsements, he could reach billionaire status in the coming years.
Which country is Israel Adesanya from?
Israel Adesanya was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but moved to New Zealand at a young age. He is a dual citizen of Nigeria and New Zealand and has lived in Auckland, New Zealand, for most of his life. Though Nigeria is his place of birth, ‘The Last Stylebender’ considers himself a proud Kiwi.
Why is Israel Adesanya called ‘The Last Stylebender’?
Adesanya’s nickname ‘The Last Stylebender’ comes from the popular animated series ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender.’ His fast and elusive fighting style is likened to the show’s concept of ‘bending’ the elements. The name was given to him by a teammate at his Auckland gym, City Kickboxing. Adesanya embraced the nickname and has used it throughout his combat sports career.
Conclusion
You’ve seen how Israel Adesanya has built his fortune through hard work and dedication to his craft. While his UFC career is still young, he has already achieved tremendous success and has the potential to become an even bigger star.
His charismatic personality and exciting fighting style make him a promoter’s dream. With more championship belts and bigger paydays surely on the horizon, Adesanya’s net worth will continue its rapid ascent. His endorsement portfolio will also likely expand as more brands seek to tap into his popularity. At just 34 years old, the sky’s the limit for this Nigerian-born champion. His story proves that with passion, skill, and perseverance, anyone can achieve greatness.