THE LAST STYLEBENDER
Muscle & Fitness|March 2020
UFC middleweight champion ISRAEL ADESANYA on how he spends his money and his plans to fight MMA legend Jon Jones.
Andrew Gutman
THE LAST STYLEBENDER

UFC middleweight fighter Israel Adesanya is the modern blueprint for how MMA fame should be accomplished. The Nigerian native and New Zealand resident took to fighting more than a decade ago and has dabbled in boxing, kickboxing, and MMA. As a kickboxer, Adesanya amassed a 75–5 record. He went 5–1 in boxing and, as of press time, is undefeated in MMA with 18 wins.

It’s not enough to win any more in the sport of mixed martial arts. Modern fighters not only need to be able to win but also to cut entertaining promos and have a savvy social media presence.

It’s a big job, but one that Adesanya has handled with ease since he arrived at the UFC in February 2018—he’s put on a striking clinic in each fight, with an amusing post-fight interview and press conference to boot. He quickly worked his way up to UFC 243, where he knocked out Robert Whittaker, the then middleweight champ, in the second round on Oct. 6, 2019. Now Adesanya is sitting pretty as the king of the middleweights—all in just a year and a half after joining the UFC. He’s witty. He’s confident. He can fight, and Adesanya appears to be here to stay.

This story is from the March 2020 edition of Muscle & Fitness.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 2020 edition of Muscle & Fitness.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MUSCLE & FITNESSView All
7 Things Fitness Insiders Want You To Know
Muscle & Fitness

7 Things Fitness Insiders Want You To Know

We asked seasoned coaches and trainers in the fitness industry for tips and advice that they wish all their clients and social media followers knew. From dispelling myths about training with injuries to assuming all box gyms suck, your training IQ is all but guaranteed to rise a few points after digesting these tidbits.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2020
GRAGE AGAINST THE MACHINES
Muscle & Fitness

GRAGE AGAINST THE MACHINES

Fitness entrepreneur James Grage ditched the gym for resistance band workouts to spend more time with his family. Judging by his results, he won’t be returning anytime soon.

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2020
GO TO BED TIRED
Muscle & Fitness

GO TO BED TIRED

Forget brains, talent, or genetics. For Special Forces operator and former UFC fighter Tim Kennedy, hard work is the most important factor to a rewarding life.

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2020
FINE ART: CHISELING A COMPETITION-QUALITY UPPER BODY
Muscle & Fitness

FINE ART: CHISELING A COMPETITION-QUALITY UPPER BODY

How physique competitor Osamoje Imoohi shaped his mind and impressive body through fitness.

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2020
Light Up Your Legs
Muscle & Fitness

Light Up Your Legs

Juan Morel’s continued quest for bodybuilding’s top prize begins with his killer leg workout.

time-read
4 mins  |
April 2020
ROMAN'S SECOND REIGN
Muscle & Fitness

ROMAN'S SECOND REIGN

After being sidelined with leukemia in 2018, WWE Superstar Roman Reigns returned bigger and stronger—both inside and outside the ring.

time-read
7 mins  |
April 2020
COOL RUNNINGS
Muscle & Fitness

COOL RUNNINGS

To break out of his fitness funk, M&F ’s chief content officer, Zack Zeigler, challenged himself to complete a 5K, a 10K, a half marathon, and a 24-hour, 30-mile Spartan Race all in a week’s time.

time-read
1 min  |
April 2020
THE FUTURE OF STEROIDS
Muscle & Fitness

THE FUTURE OF STEROIDS

M&F explores the advancements being made to PEDs, emerging drugs, and what this all means for the future of bodybuilding and other sports

time-read
9 mins  |
April 2020
BRAIN FOOD
Muscle & Fitness

BRAIN FOOD

These seven foods will nourish your body and sharpen your mind.

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2020
THE MODERN RUNNING SHOE...DISSECTED
Muscle & Fitness

THE MODERN RUNNING SHOE...DISSECTED

More innovations have been made in the past decade to the running shoe than ever before, resulting in a product so efficient it was almost banned from all running events. Here are the major changes that have led us to the pinnacle of performance footwear.

time-read
5 mins  |
April 2020