I don’t really take punishment from fights; the punishment is from the training, from my teammates. Israel Adesanya Read Quote
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. Israel Adesanya Read Quote
The promoters in New Zealand weren’t looking at me, they didn’t see the potential. But when I was fighting in China they brought me over there as a journeyman so all their guys could whup up on me. Then they realised that’s not gonna happen because I kept whupping up on their guys. Then they decided, ‘Let’s bring this guy into our team.’ Israel Adesanya Read Quote
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. Israel Adesanya Read Quote
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. Israel Adesanya Read Quote
Put it this way, people in my position in the UFC, their coaches couldn’t tell them to sweep the mats because some people feel like they’re better than that. I’m not one of those people. No matter how I am on camera, people who really know me, who know my soul, know I keep that same energy. So ain’t nothing change but the change. Israel Adesanya Read Quote
There are a lot of sports that New Zealand does very well but MMA is a truly global sport and it’s practiced in the farthest reaches of this earth. Israel Adesanya Read Quote
