Monday , 23 December 2024
Home Sports Adesanya reveals financial struggles following Pereira loss
Sports

Adesanya reveals financial struggles following Pereira loss

Israel Adesanya

UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has revealed a dark period in his career when he was left financially poor following a loss to Alex Pereira during his kickboxing days in China.

The revelation sheds light on the unpredictable nature of a fighter’s career and the importance of having a supportive team. It also contrasts sharply with Adesanya’s recent high-profile UFC career, which has seen him win and lose the middleweight title multiple times.

The Nigerian-born Kiwi UFC star and former middleweight champion, known for his flashy style and confidence in the octagon, shared a surprising tale of hardship on The JRE podcast, narrating how he found himself in dire straits after the promotion he was fighting for suddenly stopped offering him bouts.

“When I was fighting in China and I lost to Alex, they stopped giving me fights. I think, at the time, I was the highest-paid foreign fighter in China, but then they stopped giving me fights,” Adesanya revealed.

He pleaded with the promotion, saying, “Look, I have seven more fights on my contract. Can I at least just get three? I just need three,” as his funds were rapidly depleting.

The situation became so desperate that Adesanya was down to his last $500, barely enough to cover a week’s groceries. It was at this low point that his coach, Eugene Bareman, stepped in as a financial lifeline.

Adesanya recounted the emotional moment when Bareman instructed him to check his bank account, leaving the fighter in tears of gratitude.

Despite recent setbacks, including losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, ‘The Last Stylebender’ is not ready to throw in the towel.

In a recent interview on The Adam Carolla Show, Adesanya expressed his desire to fight once more before the year’s end or early next year.

“At the moment, I want to fight one more time before the end of this year, or early next year. But I don’t know yet. I’m just training, building off where we left off,” Adesanya stated.

The fighter also candidly addressed his recent loss to du Plessis, admitting to a tactical error when he pointed at the ground after slipping.

As Adesanya plots his comeback, fans and pundits alike are eager to see what the next chapter holds for the dynamic fighter who has proven his resilience both in and out of the octagon.

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

LaLiga minnows offer to rescue Iheanacho from stagnation at Sevilla

Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho is not finding life so easy at...

Paul Pogba reacts as brother handed prison sentence: I can finally turn the page

On Thursday, Paul Pogba’s (31) brother, Mathias, was handed a three-year prison...

Paul Pogba’s brother handed 3-year jail term for extortion

A brother of World Cup winner Paul Pogba was sentenced Thursday by...

Dethroned CAF Player of the Year Osimhen’s replacement settles seven-goal thriller for Galatasaray

Victor Osimhen returned from injury in the pulsating encounter but his teammate...