Top 99 Quotes & Sayings by Israel Adesanya

Explore popular quotes and sayings by a Nigerian athlete Israel Adesanya.
Last updated on December 25, 2024.
Israel Adesanya

Israel Mobolaji Odunayo Oluwafemi Temitayo Owolabi Adesanya is a Nigerian-born New Zealand professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and former boxer with multiple championships in all three disciplines. As a mixed martial artist, he is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Middleweight Champion. In kickboxing, he is a former Glory Middleweight Championship title challenger. As of 12 April 2022, he is #3 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.

If people want to take the chance to watch, to see what I bring and try to use it to better themselves, yeah, OK. But I'm not one of these guys who's going to try to be a role model and be an angel because I want to get a Nike sponsorship.
There are no limits, man.
My least favorite thing or my pet peeve would be people who literally ignore the other people you're with, or the situation, and they just dive right in and cut off the conversation.
Even in my first year in the UFC I fought five times in the year. — © Israel Adesanya
Even in my first year in the UFC I fought five times in the year.
It's passion; if I'm not passionate about something I'm not going to do it.
Look, I can't dim my shine just because some people feel uncomfortable.
Look at rugby, the national sport, you have guys weighing 130kg, 140kg, who can run like sprinters full clip into each other causing brain damage constantly on that field.
God mode is something that I've always tried to unlock within myself.
If you visibly compromise someone or hurt someone, or hurt their vision, you're not supposed to still just stand there and wait for them to come to you.
Conor changed the game and he paved the way. He did those big numbers and I'm one of the guys who is going to carry that forward.
I'm not proud of my chin but I can take a shot.
Your parents and people close to you, whenever you want to do something or you want to follow a dream, they'll try and stop you. It's not out of their hating, it's just protection. They want to try and preserve you. Like 'oh what If he fails?' From the culture we're from, they want to protect you.
Being a big black man in China in the mainland, walking down the street, you have everyone looking at you, 'Basketball?' They don't really see a lot of us around, maybe on TV, so they're just looking.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a beautiful thing. — © Israel Adesanya
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a beautiful thing.
I'm fortunate enough that my dad was well-off, my family was well-off, so we're able to go to private schools and stuff like that.
I can hit hard, trust me.
I wear gold all of the time. I collect gold like a magpie.
I am a very persuasive man.
I do what I do for a job. This is fighting. This is a bloody sport. It's not a nice sport.
In 2013, I went through a really great depression.
In boxing, you've got CTE from head trauma constantly.
If I ever feel like I need to see someone to help me adjust to whatever life situation I'm seeing, I'll go. You're sick. When you're physically ill, you go to the doctor. It's the same thing about your mental. If you feel you're starting to get sick, you go see someone who can help you.
I know what I bring to the table, I know my work. That's why I'm able to push for what I want.
I'm real petty. I remember everything like an elephant.
Aang hits the Avatar-state and he has this unlimited power. He enters into a flow state, you know, he's in the zone. That's how it feels for me sometimes when I'm fighting.
They say to never underestimate anyone, but they don't tell you to overestimate people either, so I'm just going to do me.
I've fought injured so many times for so many years.
Aang is an Airbender, and he became the Avatar after the last one died. He has to realize his destiny as the Avatar by mastering all of the elements - earth, fire and air. For me, I feel like I'm mastering all the different styles or elements of MMA. It's my destiny to become the Avatar of this game.
Coming up in this country, I've seen it so many times. When you see somebody rising you want to tear them down because you feel inadequate and you want to call it humble.
Look at all the champs over time once they get the belt - they just fall off. I'm not one of those guys. The belt isn't my ultimate prize, it just looks good with all my other gold, chains, and diamonds.
I don't focus on anyone but myself.
I've said this before, I would fight my grandmother if I had to. And she's dead.
Uriah Hall, you ever play that game Tekken where you just button bash? I always think that's what he looks like. He's just button bashing and hoping something cool will come out of it.
I make moves on my terms.
I get really aggravated if I don't train, if I don't let that testosterone out.
Staying in the moment is something I'll never achieve unless I'm hanging out with the right people and just being in the gym as well.
Even when I was fighting in China I met some guys on the local circuit that we're fighting, they didn't enjoy it, they wanted to be musicians and do other things, but they're just fighting because it pays the bills and they get money for it.
Kids will tell me 'oh I want to be like you when I grow up,' you know. I just thought 'nah, don't be like me, be like you,' because first of all they don't really know me but second of all I understand what they're trying to say but I just let them know - be like you.
I'm not going to say I'm perfect. I never have. — © Israel Adesanya
I'm not going to say I'm perfect. I never have.
I'm not stupid. After you just punch me, I'm not gonna be like, 'Alright, let me do that again.'
I never, ever deviate from my plans.
They don't really teach you how to be famous and a lot of people don't realise that this game comes with a lot of traps. So I'm just looking after myself, looking after my health and making sure I don't fall into those traps.
I've learned how to be famous and a lot of people don't prepare for it and it's something that can change life for the better or for the worst.
When I'm having fun, I'm the best in the world.
You're never as good as they say you are, you're never as bad as they say you are. That's a quote I live by.
All that matters is how you see yourself.
I've never had staph in my life. Knock on wood, I never will.
I just want to fight and be remembered as the best, who fought everyone and beat them. Then the money, the numbers, the records, they all chase me.
I've got Africa stamped on my chest, and I've outlined Nigeria because that's my bloodline. — © Israel Adesanya
I've got Africa stamped on my chest, and I've outlined Nigeria because that's my bloodline.
There's no one like me. No one.
I'm a guy that, if I see people running away from something I'm like, 'Why you running away? What's over there?'
I'm a dancer, I'm an entertainer.
The wrestling begins before you even engage in the clinch, I've said this already. This is one thing people don't know, wrestling begins on the feet with the stand up.
I have to plot my path to greatness.
I was an oddball in kickboxing because of my style. I'm different. I'm fleet-footed and I understand how to move and work the system.
It's about legacy, it's about moments, it's about being an icon - I'll do what I do and the money will flow.
I tried so many times to fit in but I could never ever fit in. I was always like, an outcast.
I had to work to where I'm at. I was not an athlete in school.
I've talked about tall poppy syndrome when I see people. I used to be like, 'Why am I feeling this way? What is that person taking from me that makes me feel inadequate?' That same feeling you feel when you feel uncomfortable because people start talking about racism, lean into that feeling, don't just look away from it, because you can't pretend.
To reach the heights of a truly global sport, in a sport as difficult as this, is a monumental achievement.
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