The Nigerian-born UFC star, Israel Adesanya, has disclosed what led to his decision to pursue fighting as a profession. While disclosing this he also urged aspiring athletes not to follow his footsteps but to create their own path and draw inspiration from him and other celebrated athletes.
Fielding questions when he attended a Celestial Church of Christ service in Lagos, the fighter, who was wearing a Celestial garment in a video said he started fighting as a way of looking out for himself and decided to take up fighting as a career.
He also commended the roles played by his father, saying he wouldn’t have become a fighter without his father’s unwavering support.
When questioned about his decision to become a professional fighter, he replied, ‘It’s a long story, but essentially, I started fighting to defend myself. Through that process, I discovered my talent for it and decided to pursue it as a career. Fortunately, it has paid off well for me so far.'”
Adesanya also claimed faith has played a major role in his career, adding that after preparing for fights, he also holds onto faith.
He said, “Faith is something you have to have in this life. You can’t walk by side, you have to walk by faith. Faith has guided me a lot through my life and not just my career alone.
“I just trust in myself and trust in the high power. I trust and believe in who I am and I stand steadfast in it.”
“I prepare for my fight through training, hard work, and sometimes, you don’t know what the outcome is going to be and you just have to have faith.
“Faith is something I hold on to in life in general and it helps me in all parts of my life and even in my career,” Adesanya added.
On his advice for aspiring athletes, the last stylebender said, “Don’t try and follow in my footsteps. I’d say create your path. Get inspiration from someone like myself and what I have done and use it to further yourself in your own life.
“I feel like people trying to copy what someone’s done right now isn’t worth it. If you’re inspired by what someone has done, take that inspiration and use it in your own life.”
the Nigerian-born athlete, who arrived in Lagos last Wednesday, received a hero’s welcome despite his recent UFC 305 loss to South African fighter, Dricus Du Plessis, while visiting his hometown of Esa-Oke in Osun State
Adesanya had also been spotted enjoying the Lagos nightlife as he hit a popular club on Lagos Island Friday night.
The mixed martial arts star shared glimpses of his outing on his Instagram stories, drawing attention from fans and celebrities alike.
Despite losing to Dricus du Plessis in a thrilling UFC 305 main event, Adesanya reportedly earned more than the reigning champion.
The bout, which took place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, saw Du Plessis successfully defend his UFC Middleweight Championship for the first time, forcing Adesanya to tap out in the fourth round.
The fight, which was the first-ever UFC title clash between two African fighters, held significant historical importance and generated substantial financial rewards for both competitors.
According to reports from The Sportster, Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion, was guaranteed $750,000 for the fight, while Du Plessis got $500,000.
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