Net Worth Ranker
What Is Israel Adesanya Net Worth?
Israel Adesanya, a prominent figure in both mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing, has accumulated a net worth of $4 million. This financial standing reflects his success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), as well as his prior achievements in kickboxing, where he challenged for the Glory Middleweight Championship. Adesanya’s earnings come from a combination of fight purses, performance bonuses, and endorsement deals.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born on July 22, 1989, in Lagos, Nigeria, Israel Adesanya spent his formative years in a household led by his accountant father, Oluwafemi, and nurse mother, Taiwo. He is the eldest of five children. His early education took place at Chrisland School, Opebi, where he first engaged in Taekwondo. In 1999, the Adesanya family relocated to Ghana for ten months before settling in Rotorua, New Zealand. Adesanya attended Rotorua Boys’ High School and later enrolled at the Universal College of Learning in Whanganui, pursuing a major in computer design. However, his passion for combat sports led him to drop out of college to dedicate himself to kickboxing.
Adesanya’s kickboxing career began remarkably, achieving a 32-0 record before turning professional. He continued his success, winning his first seven professional fights. A significant moment in his kickboxing journey was his participation in the 2016 Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament. He defeated Robert Thomas in the semifinals and Yousri Belgaroui in the final via split decision. Adesanya then faced Jason Wilnis for the Glory Middleweight Championship in Los Angeles but lost in a unanimous decision. His final kickboxing match was a rematch against Alex Pereira at Glory of Heroes 7, which resulted in a knockout loss.
Mixed Martial Arts Career and UFC Achievements
Adesanya transitioned to professional MMA in 2012, marking his debut with a TKO victory over James Griffiths. After another TKO win against John Vake, he took a two-year hiatus from MMA. He returned in 2015 with another TKO victory against Song Kenan. Building an early 8-0 career record, primarily on the Chinese and Oceanian circuits, Adesanya’s momentum led him to the UFC in 2018. His UFC debut was against Rob Wilkinson at UFC 221, where he won via technical knockout and received his first Performance of the Night bonus. This initial success in the UFC significantly contributed to his rising net worth. Following his debut, Adesanya faced Marvin Vettori at UFC on Fox 29, winning by split decision. A few months later, he defeated Brad Tavares by unanimous decision, earning another Performance of the Night honor. He continued his ascent by defeating Derek Brunson at UFC 230.
In early 2019, Adesanya defeated Anderson Silva in the main event at UFC 234, further solidifying his status in the sport. At UFC 236 in April 2019, he faced Kelvin Gastelum for the interim UFC Middleweight Championship. Adesanya won the fight by unanimous decision. Later that year, at UFC 243, he beat Robert Whittaker to claim the UFC Middleweight Championship, a pivotal moment that significantly boosted his earnings and net worth. Adesanya’s first title defense was against Yoel Romero at UFC 248 in March 2020, which he won by unanimous decision. He continued to defend his title at UFC 253, defeating Paulo Costa via technical knockout. In 2021, Adesanya moved up weight classes to face Jan Błachowicz for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, but he lost, marking his first MMA defeat. He bounced back at UFC 263, defeating Marvin Vettori in a rematch for the Middleweight Championship. At UFC 271 in 2022, Adesanya defended his title again by winning his rematch against Robert Whittaker.
Boxing Career
In late 2014, Adesanya ventured into professional boxing and received a wildcard entry into the Super 8 Boxing Tournament as a cruiserweight in Auckland, New Zealand. His first fight resulted in a controversial unanimous decision loss to Australian champion Daniel Ammann. Adesanya re-entered the Super 8 Tournament the following year, securing his first professional boxing win against Asher Derbyshire. He then defeated Lance Bryant in the tournament’s second fight before winning against Brian Minto in the final. Later in the year, at the Super 8 Boxing Tournament IV, Adesanya defended his cruiserweight title by defeating Zane Hopman in the semifinal and Lance Bryant in the final. While his boxing career contributed to his overall income, his primary earnings came from MMA.
Endorsements and Sponsorships
In 2020, Adesanya became the first MMA athlete to secure a sponsorship deal with Puma, a significant endorsement deal that added to his financial portfolio. In early 2021, he served as an ambassador for Stake.com, further expanding his endorsement earnings. These endorsement deals, combined with his UFC earnings, have significantly contributed to his $4 million net worth.
