Real Life Rock Lee: Israel Adesanya

If you are a fan of the fighting industry, it's impossible to not know who is Israel Adesanya. Also known as "The Last Stylebender", Nigerian-born mixed martial artist who has become one of the most dominant forces in the sport today. With a record of 21 wins and only 1 loss, Adesanya has captured the attention of fans around the world with his unique fighting style, sharp wit, and love of anime.

Childhood and Early Career

Adesanya was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1989. At the age of 10, Adesanya and his family moved to New Zealand, where he eventually began training in kickboxing. After making a name for himself on the kickboxing circuit, Adesanya transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2012. He quickly rose through the ranks, amassing an impressive record and capturing titles in various organizations.

In 2018, Adesanya signed with the UFC, the world's premier MMA organization. He made his debut in February of that year, defeating Rob Wilkinson by TKO in the second round. Adesanya's unique fighting style, which combines elements of kickboxing, Muay Thai, and traditional martial arts, immediately caught the attention of fans and analysts alike.

Like Water My Friend

As a child, he was heavily influenced by martial arts movies, particularly those featuring Bruce Lee. Adesanya's success in the Octagon has been attributed to his unique fighting style, which he describes as "like water", which shows the influence of Bruce Lee on Adesanya. He is a master of distance and timing, able to evade his opponents' strikes while delivering precise and powerful blows of his own. Over the next few years, Adesanya continued to dominate his opponents, racking up wins against some of the best fighters in the world. In 2019, he defeated Kelvin Gastelum in a thrilling five-round battle to capture the UFC interim middleweight championship. Later that year, he defeated Robert Whittaker by TKO to become the undisputed middleweight champion. Since then, Adesanya has defended his title against top contenders such as Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori. He also moved up to light heavyweight to challenge Jan Blachowicz for the title in March 2021 but was ultimately defeated by a unanimous decision.

The Anime Nerd

Indeed, Adesanya is a self-proclaimed anime fanatic. He has spoken at length about his love of the medium, which he says he discovered as a child. Some of his favorite anime include Naruto, One Piece, and Dragon Ball Z, and he often incorporates references to these shows into his fighting gear and post-fight celebrations. Adesanya's love of anime has made him a favorite among fans of both MMA and anime. He has even appeared in the anime series Fire Force, providing the voice for a character named Arrow. During the face, off against Anderson Silva, Adesanya pulled off the infamous Rock Lee stance, and Silva, unaware of the situation, crossed his arms against the pose, which create a perfect replica of the original scene of the popular battle between Rock Lee and Gaara.

Israel Adesanya's rise to the top of the MMA world has been nothing short of remarkable. His unique fighting style, love of anime, and outspoken activism have made him a fan favorite and a true icon in the sport. In addition to his success in the octagon and his love of anime, Adesanya is also known for his activism outside of the sport. He has been vocal in his support of the Black Lives Matter movement and has used his platform to speak out against racism and police brutality. As he continues to defend his title and take on new challenges, it is clear that "The Last Stylebender" will remain a force to be reckoned with for years to come.