UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has opened up about a dark period in his career when he faced financial struggles after losing to Alex Pereira during his kickboxing days in China.
Adesanya, a Nigerian-born Kiwi UFC star and former middleweight champion, shared his story on The JRE podcast. He revealed that after the loss, the promotion stopped offering him bouts, leaving him in dire financial straits.
“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 said.
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.
Adesanya’s situation became desperate, with only $500 left, barely enough to cover a week’s groceries. It was then 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.
This revelation sheds light on the unpredictable nature of a fighter’s career and the importance of having a supportive team.
Despite recent setbacks, including losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, Adesanya is not ready to give up. In a recent interview on The Adam Carolla Show, he 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.
Adesanya also 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.
Do you have a story to share? Want to advertise with us? Or perhaps you need publicity for a product, service, or event?
Contact us:WhatsApp: +2348165713606 Email: nationalreports001@gmail.com
We'd love to hear from you!"
