srael Adesanya is widely regarded as one of the greatest middleweight fighters in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Sans Anderson Silva, no one in the UFC has achieved more in the division than the Nigerian-born Kiwi. Adesanya transitioned to MMA following a successful kickboxing career in the Asia-Pacific region, where he established himself as a notable figure.
Glory Kickboxing is where his storied rivalry with Alex Pereira, the current UFC light heavyweight champion, began. Preluding his second fight with Pereira at UFC 281, he had an interview with Taylor Rooks, and it is now going viral for all the wrong reasons.
Israel Adesanya reveals secret to make weight
Before Israel Adesanya fought Alex Pereira in the UFC, the Last Stylebender was undefeated in the middleweight division with his sole loss coming against Jan Blachowicz at light heavyweight. Before losing to Pereira at UFC 281, Adesanya was interviewed by Taylor Rooks.
In the interview, Rooks asked Adesanya about the craziest thing that he had done to make weight for a fight. “I busted a nut to make,” Adesanya replied despite initially declining due to the persistence of Rooks. The Kiwi further added that this was during his kickboxing days.
Interestingly enough, Rooks further inquired about how much weight he lost with the aforementioned action. “A Few grams came off. 100 grams,” Adesanya replied. Moreover, he also added that he does not want anybody to follow what he did.
Adesanya was very young at the time and did not know how to cut weight scientifically. Moreover, at the time, he also believed in the superstition of no sex before a matchup.
Looking back at Israel Adesanya’s kickboxing career
Israel Adesanya had a storied kickboxing career, mainly in the Asia-Pacific region. The Last Stylebender secured 75 victories, which include 29 knockout victories, in 80 professional kickboxing fights.
Adesanya’s first career accomplishment was winning the WKBF New Zealand Cruiserweight title in 2010. Adesanya would later sign with Wu Lin Feng promotion in China and reel off 4 consecutive victories with 2 knockouts. The Kiwi would suffer his first professional defeat in kickboxing against Simon Marcus in the semifinals of the Kunlun Fight 2 – 80kg tournament.
Adesanya then made his Glory debut against Filip Verlinden which ended in a unanimous decision loss. In his next fight, he won the WMC Oceania Cruiserweight title with a knockout of Charles August. The Kiwi would then win the King in the Ring tournament three times – the first two coming in the 86kg category and the third in the 100kg category.
Adesanya had his second fight in Glory against Alex Pereira and lost via controversial decision. He then exacted revenge on Verlinden and defeated Yousri Belgaroui twice, before losing consecutively to Jason Wilnis and Pereira.
What do you make of Israel Adesanya’s bizarre story of busting a nut to lose weight? Leave your thoughts about it below!
