| Israel Adesanya | |
|---|---|
 Adesanya at UFC 230 in 2018 | |
| Born | Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya[1] (1989-07-22)22 July 1989 (age 36) Lagos, Nigeria |
| Nickname | The Last Stylebender |
| Nationality | Nigerian[2] New Zealander |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) |
| Division | Middleweight (2012–present) Light Heavyweight (2021) |
| Reach | 80 in (203 cm)[3] |
| Style | Kickboxing |
| Fighting out of | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Team | City Kickboxing (2010–present)[5] |
| Trainer | Eugene Bareman:Head coach Andrei Păuleț:Wrestling[6][7] |
| Rank | Purple belt inBrazilian Jiu-JitsuunderAndré Galvão[8] |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 6 |
| Wins | 5 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 80 |
| Wins | 75 |
| By knockout | 27 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 29 |
| Wins | 24 |
| By knockout | 16 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Boxing record fromBoxRec | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Subscribers | 1.31 million |
| Views | 217.5 million |
| Last updated: 17 January 2026 | |
Israel Mobolaji Temitayo Odunayo Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya[1] (born 22 July 1989) is a Nigerian-New Zealand professionalmixed martial artist, formerkickboxer, andboxer.[9][10] As a mixed martial artist, he currently competes in theMiddleweight division of theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former two-timeUFC Middleweight Champion. In kickboxing, he is a formerGlory Middleweight Championship title challenger. As of 21 October 2025, he is #6 in theUFC middleweight rankings.[11]
Adesanya was born inLagos, Nigeria, the eldest of five children.[9] His father, Oluwafemi,[12] is an accountant and his mother, Taiwo, is a nurse.[13] He is ethnicYoruba.[14][15] Adesanya attendedChrisland School, Opebi, and enrolled in itsTaekwondo after-school club until he was removed by his mother due to an injury.[9][16][17]
In 1999, he relocated toGhana with his family for 10 months,[5] but due to his parents wanting their children to receive a well-recognised higher education,[18] he settled inRotorua, New Zealand, at age 10[19] and attendedRotorua Boys' High School.[20] Adesanya was not interested in sports during high school; instead he was interested in Japaneseanime such asDeath Note[21] and themanga seriesNaruto.[22] Adesanya was bullied during his high school years[23] and attributes his decision to pursue martial arts later in life to the mistreatment he experienced.[24] Adesanya's first exposure to fighting and an early influence on him was watching the British boxerPrince Naseem Hamed.[25] He stated that in an interview, "I remember watching him, mesmerized at what I saw, how we came to the ring and did that flip. That was one of my earliest memories of showmanship."[25]
Following high school graduation, Adesanya enrolled in aBachelor of Science in Computer Design at theUniversal College of Learning inWhanganui.[26] At the age of 18, he started training in kickboxing, after being inspired by theMuay Thai filmOng-Bak.[17] Two years later Adesanya made the decision to cease his studies in pursuit of a career in kickboxing and went on to amass an amateur record of 32–1 before turning professional and fighting in China.[27][28] At the age of 21, Adesanya moved toAuckland, New Zealand, and began training in mixed martial arts underEugene Bareman atCity Kickboxing, with future UFC fighters such asDan Hooker,Kai Kara-France and UFCFeatherweight ChampionAlexander Volkanovski.[29][30][31] He trains inwrestling under the Romanian New Zealander Andrei Păuleț.[6][7]
In his early career he amassed a long winning streak in New Zealand, Australia and had numerous bouts withWu Lin Feng in China. His winning streak earned him a place in the 2014Kunlun Fight 80 kg tournament, held duringKunlun Fight 2. He lost the semifinal bout againstSimon Marcus by an extra round split decision.[32] Adesanya afterwards made hisGlory debut atGlory 15, when he facedFilip Verlinden. Verlinden won the fight by unanimous decision.[33] The two of them fought a rematch atGlory of Heroes 3, two years after their first fight, with Adesanya winning a unanimous decision.
Adesanya participated in theKing in the Ring Cruiserweights II tournament of the regional circuit in New Zealand.[34] In the quarterfinal, he beat Slava Alexeichik by unanimous decision, in the semifinal he beat Pati Afoa by knockout and won the tournament with a knockout of Jamie Eades. Six months later, he took part in the 2015 Cruiserweights III tournament. He scored technical knockouts of Kim Loudon and Mark Timms in the quarterfinal and semifinal bouts respectively, before winning the tournament for the second time with a first-round knockout of Pati Afoa.[35]
Moving up in weight, Adesanya participated in the 2015 The Heavyweights III, as well. He defeated Nase Foai by TKO in the quarterfinal and Dan Roberts by KO in the semifinal, before facing Jamie Eades in the finals. The two had previously met in the final of the 2014 Cruiserweight tournament. Adesanya won the tournament final by unanimous decision.[36]
Adesanya won five of his next six fights, including victories overYousri Belgaroui[37] andBogdan Stoica.[38] His loss came at the hands of futureGLORY Middleweight championAlex Pereira, who won by unanimous decision.[39]
Adesanya participated in the 2016 Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament. He defeated Robert Thomas by unanimous decision in the semifinals, and won the tournament with a split decision victory overYousri Belgaroui.[40] He foughtJason Wilnis for theGlory Middleweight championship atGlory 37: Los Angeles. Wilnis won the fight by unanimous decision, although the result was considered controversial.[41][42][43]
His last kickboxing fight, before transitioning tomixed martial arts, was a rematch withAlex Pereira atGlory of Heroes 7. Pereira won the fight by knockout, after dropping Adesanya with a short left hook in the third round.[44]
Adesanya retired from kickboxing peaking at #4 in the ranking system.[45]
Adesanya made his professional debut in 2012, with a TKO win against James Griffiths. He scored another TKO win against John Vake, before taking a two-year hiatus from mixed martial arts. He returned to MMA in August 2015, when he won the fight againstSong Kenan by TKO.[46] He went on to amass an 8–0 record, fighting mostly in Oceanian and Chinese circuits. During this run, he won theAFC Middleweight Championship atAustralia Fighting Championship 20 with a first-round TKO overMelvin Guillard,[47] as well as the Hex Fight Series Middleweight championship with a first-round KO of Stuart Dare.[48]
In December 2017, it was announced that Adesanya had signed a contract with theUFC. He made his debut againstRob Wilkinson on 11 February 2018, atUFC 221.[49] He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[50] This fight earned him aPerformance of the Night award.[51]
Adesanya's next fight took place on 14 April 2018, againstMarvin Vettori atUFC on Fox 29.[52] He won the match by split decision.[53] 15 out of 17 media outlets scored the bout for Adesanya.[54]
Adesanya then facedBrad Tavares on 6 July 2018, atThe Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale.[55] Adesanya won the one-sided fight via unanimous decision.[56] This win earned him his secondPerformance of the Night award.[57]
Adesanya facedDerek Brunson on 3 November 2018, atUFC 230.[58] He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.[59] This win earned him thePerformance of the Night award for a third time.[60]
While initially expected to serve as the co-main event, Adesanya faced formerUFC Middleweight ChampionAnderson Silva on 10 February 2019, in the main event ofUFC 234.[61] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[62] This fight earned both competitors theFight of the Night award.[63]
Adesanya facedKelvin Gastelum for the interimUFC Middleweight Championship on 13 April 2019, in the co-main event ofUFC 236.[64] He won the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 48–46.[65] This fight earned him theFight of the Night award.[66] The fight was widely regarded as the best fight of the year, earning the nomination from most of the MMA news outlets.[67]
Adesanya then facedRobert Whittaker in a title unification bout on 6 October 2019, headliningUFC 243 forUFC Middleweight Championship.[68] After a knockdown in last second of the first round, Adesanya won the fight via knockout in the second round.[69] This win earned him his fourthPerformance of the Night award.[70] Him andKamaru Usman becoming UFC champions was ranked as the 29th most memorable moment in Nigerian sports historysince 1960 byPremium Times in 2020, one of only four combat sports-related moments.[71]
Adesanya next faced three-time UFC title challengerYoel Romero on 7 March 2020UFC 248.[72] He won the fight via unanimous decision, with scores of 48–47, 48–47 and 49–46 and defended his title for the first time.[73] Many fans and pundits felt disappointed due to the low activity by both fighters which resulted in a largely uneventful fight in which neither fighter was able to deliver any significant offense.[74][75]
In his next title defense, Adesanya faced fellow undefeated fighterPaulo Costa on 27 September 2020 atUFC 253.[76] This marked the first time two male unbeaten mixed martial artists met in a title fight since 2009.[77] He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[78] This win earned him his fifthPerformance of the Night award.[79] After the bout, Adesanya's visible right-breastgynecomastia drummed up controversy due to possiblePEDs use, though Adesanya claimed it was due to his usage ofmarijuana.[80][81] Adesanya also caused additional controversy by simulating anal sex on the prone Costa at the end of the fight.[82]
Adesanya moved up a weight class and facedJan Błachowicz for theUFC Light Heavyweight Championship on 6 March 2021, headliningUFC 259.[83] At the weight-ins, Adesanya weighed 200 pounds, five pounds away from thelight heavyweight limit.[84] He lost the fight via unanimous decision, with scores of 49–46, 49–45 and 49–45, marking the first time he has been defeated in mixed martial arts.[85]
Adesanya rematchedMarvin Vettori for the UFC Middleweight Championship on 12 June 2021, headliningUFC 263.[86] Adesanya controlled a majority of the fight winning via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 50–45.[87]
A rematch between Adesanya and Robert Whittaker for theUFC Middleweight Championship took place on 12 February 2022 atUFC 271.[88] Adesanya won the rematch via unanimous decision, with scores of 48–47, 48–47 and 49–46.[89]
Adesanya facedJared Cannonier on 2 July 2022, atUFC 276.[90] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[91] This win earn him theCrypto.comFan Bonus of the Night first place award which paid in bitcoin of US$30,000.[92]
Adesanya facedAlex Pereira, who had two victories against him in kickboxing, on 12 November 2022 atUFC 281.[93] Adesanya lost the fight and title via technical knockout in the fifth round, his first loss at middleweight.[94]
A rematch between Pereira and Adesanya for theUFC Middleweight Championship took place on 8 April 2023, atUFC 287.[95] Adesanya won the fight and title via knockout in the second round.[96] This win earned him thePerformance of the Night award.[97]
Adesanya facedSean Strickland on 10 September 2023, atUFC 293.[98] Adesanya lost the bout and championship in a major upset via unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 49–46.[99]
Adesanya facedDricus du Plessis for theUFC Middleweight Championship on 18 August 2024 atUFC 305 in Perth, Australia.[100] He lost the fight via a face crank submission in the fourth round leading to the first submission loss in his career.[101]
In his first non-title bout in over five years, Adesanya facedNassourdine Imavov in the main event on 1 February 2025 atUFC Fight Night 250.[102] He lost the fight by technical knockout in the second round.[103]
Adesanya is scheduled to faceJoe Pyfer in the main event on March 28, 2026, atUFC Fight Night 271.[104]
On theUFC 312 broadcast in February 2025, it was announced that Adesanya's bout withKelvin Gastelum atUFC 236 in April 2019 would be inducted into the fight wing of the 2025UFC Hall of Fame.[105]
Adesanya began his professional boxing career in November 2014 against two-timeAustralian championDaniel Ammann.[106] He was granted one of two wildcards to enter the inaugural cruiserweightSuper 8 Boxing Tournament.[107] The event was headlined byShane Cameron andKali Meehan at theNorth Shore Events Centre in Auckland, New Zealand.[108] He suffered a controversial loss viaunanimous decision after he looked to have outpointed Ammann in the quarter-finals.[109]
Adesanya re-entered the Super 8 tournament in May 2015, held atHorncastle Arena inChristchurch. It was the second cruiserweight series with the winner receiving $25,000NZD and a new car.[110] He won his first professional fight against fellowNew Zealander Asher Derbyshire in the first seed. Adesanya knocked his opponent out in the second round. In the second fight of the tournament, Adesanya won a majority decision againstLance Bryant. In the tournament final, he defeatedBrian Minto by split decision.[111]
Adesanya fought in the 2015 Super 8 Cruiserweight tournament. He won his semifinal match against Zane Hopman by unanimous decision, and defended the cruiserweight crown with a unanimous decision win against Lance Bryant in the final.[112]
 | This"criticism" or "controversy" sectionmay compromise the article'sneutrality. Please helpintegrate negative information into other sections or removeundue focus on minor aspects throughdiscussion on thetalk page.(April 2025) |
In February 2020, Adesanya came under fire for comments made at theUFC 248 pre-fight press conference, where he said he would make opponentYoel Romero "crumble like theTwin Towers", referencing theSeptember 11 attacks.[113] The following day, Adesanya made an apology on hisInstagram page, saying "I was simply rambling and my brain worked faster than my mouth in a moment to choose the wrongeuphemism. You speak on the mic enough times and you're bound to miss the mark with some bars. I did on this one and for that I'm sorry. I'll be more careful in future with my words."[114]
On 25 March 2021, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Sport,Grant Robertson, spoke out against Adesanya's "flippant comments" on his Instagram "Bro, I will fuckin'rape you" aimed at fellow UFC middleweight fighter,Kevin Holland. Robertson commented "I'm sure Israel understands that, I believe he has deleted the tweet in question. It will be up to the UFC as to what they do. But I would certainly be making clear to him [Adesanya], and to anybody actually, that we have to take rape seriously. It's not an issue that anyone should be making jokes or flippant comments about at all."[115][116][117]
On 16 November 2022, Adesanya was arrested atJohn F. Kennedy International Airport inNew York City for the possession ofbrass knuckles.[118][119]
On 19 August 2023,[120] Adesanya was pulled over fordrunk driving in centralAuckland, New Zealand where he was measured withblood alcohol content of 87mg%. In New Zealand the legal limit for driving is 50 mg%, and above 80 mg% the punishment is up to 3 months imprisonment. On 10 January 2024, he pleaded guilty[121] and in lieu of a prison sentence, he was finedNZ$1,500 and given a six-month driving suspension.[122] He was granted adischarge without conviction — his second, after previously driving while disqualified — due to the adverse effect a conviction would have on his ability to travel and acquiresponsorships.[123] Additionally, after his court appearance he posted videos from inside the court to his social media pages, which is illegal in New Zealand without the permission of the presiding judge.[124] He later removed the posts and released an apology.[125]
On 1 August 2024, Adesanya made false comments on Twitter in regard toAlgerian boxerImane Khelif's win at the2024 Summer Olympics, saying "Men should not be boxing women. lol he couldn't even finish her. Anyway, people > politics." He later apologized and said "From now on, I will leave women's fights to women. I tried to speak up about it and apparently, I got it wrong, a lot of people got it wrong, there was misinformation."[126]
On 5 September 2024, Adesanya was involved in a verbal confrontation with an individual after a road rage incident inAuckland, New Zealand, with Adesanya having been caught on video spitting in the direction of the man.[127] In response to the incident, Adesanya expressed his disappointment about the nature of the incident in a statement, alleging that he was racially abused and will be looking to press charges against the individual.[128]
Adesanya is multilingual, fluent inYoruba,Nigerian Pidgin, andEnglish.[129]
Before taking up fighting, Adesanya regularly competed in dance competitions acrossNew Zealand.[130] He highlighted his passion for dance in a choreographed walkout atUFC 243.[131][132]
Adesanya is a fan ofanime and has stated he would like to start an anime production company after retiring from fighting.[133] His nickname "The Last Stylebender" is a reference toAvatar: The Last Airbender, an anime-influenced cartoon series.[134] Adesanya has the image of one of the show's main characters,Toph Beifong, tattooed on his forearm.[135]
Adesanya is also a professional wrestling fan, once stopping mid interview when he spottedBooker T and acknowledged him.[136]
In September 2020, he became the firstmixed martial arts athlete to sign a sponsorship deal withPuma.[137]
In June 2023,Stylebender, a documentary film focusing on the life of Adesanya debuted at theTribeca Film Festival.[138]
Adesanya endorsed a "yes" vote in the2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum.[139]
In June 2021, Adesanya advocated tougher penalties againstcoward punching following the death of his training partner Fau Vake, who died after being punched in the head the previous month.[140][141]
Awards
| No. | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | UFC 234 | Adesanya vs.Silva | 10 February 2019 | Rod Laver Arena | Melbourne, Australia | 175,000[213] |
| 2. | UFC 243 | Whittaker vs.Adesanya | 8 October 2019 | Marvel Stadium | Melbourne, Australia | Not Disclosed[214] |
| 3. | UFC 248 | Adesanya vs.Romero | 7 March 2020 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S | Not Disclosed[215] |
| 4. | UFC 253 | Adesanya vs.Costa | 27 September 2020 | Flash Forum | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 700,000[216] |
| 5. | UFC 259 | Błachowicz vs.Adesanya | 6 March 2021 | UFC Apex | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S | 800,000[217] |
| 6. | UFC 263 | Adesanya vs.Vettori 2 | 12 June 2021 | Gila River Arena | Glendale, Arizona, U.S | 500,000[218] |
| 7. | UFC 271 | Adesanya vs.Whittaker 2 | 12 February 2022 | Toyota Center | Houston, Texas, U.S | Not Disclosed[219] |
| 8. | UFC 276 | Adesanya vs.Cannonier | 2 July 2022 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S | Not Disclosed[220] |
| 9. | UFC 281 | Adesanya vs.Pereira | 12 November 2022 | Madison Square Garden | New York City, New York, U.S | Not Disclosed[221] |
| 10. | UFC 287 | Pereira vs.Adesanya 2 | 8 April 2023 | Kaseya Center | Miami, Florida, U.S | Not Disclosed[222] |
| 11. | UFC 293 | Adesanya vs.Strickland | 10 September 2023 | Qudos Bank Arena | Sydney, Australia | Not Disclosed[223] |
| 12. | UFC 305 | du Plessis vs.Adesanya | 18 August 2024 | RAC Arena | Perth, Australia | Not Disclosed[224] |
| 29 matches | 24 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 16 | 2 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 8 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 24–5 | Nassourdine Imavov | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov | 1 February 2025 | 2 | 0:30 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |
| Loss | 24–4 | Dricus du Plessis | Submission (face crank) | UFC 305 | 18 August 2024 | 4 | 3:38 | Perth, Australia | For theUFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Loss | 24–3 | Sean Strickland | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 293 | 10 September 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | Lost theUFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 24–2 | Alex Pereira | KO (punches) | UFC 287 | 8 April 2023 | 2 | 4:21 | Miami,Florida, United States | Won theUFC Middleweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 23–2 | Alex Pereira | TKO (punches) | UFC 281 | 12 November 2022 | 5 | 2:01 | New York City,New York, United States | Lost theUFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 23–1 | Jared Cannonier | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 276 | 2 July 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas,Nevada, United States | Defended theUFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 22–1 | Robert Whittaker | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 271 | 12 February 2022 | 5 | 5:00 | Houston,Texas, United States | Defended theUFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 21–1 | Marvin Vettori | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 263 | 12 June 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | Defended theUFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Loss | 20–1 | Jan Błachowicz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 259 | 6 March 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas,Nevada, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. For theUFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 20–0 | Paulo Costa | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC 253 | 27 September 2020 | 2 | 3:59 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Defended theUFC Middleweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 19–0 | Yoel Romero | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 248 | 7 March 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas,Nevada, United States | Defended theUFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 18–0 | Robert Whittaker | KO (punches) | UFC 243 | 6 October 2019 | 2 | 3:33 | Melbourne, Australia | Won and unified theUFC Middleweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 17–0 | Kelvin Gastelum | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 236 | 13 April 2019 | 5 | 5:00 | Atlanta,Georgia, United States | Won the interimUFC Middleweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 16–0 | Anderson Silva | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 234 | 10 February 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 15–0 | Derek Brunson | TKO (knees and punches) | UFC 230 | 3 November 2018 | 1 | 4:51 | New York City,New York, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 14–0 | Brad Tavares | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale | 6 July 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas,Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–0 | Marvin Vettori | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje | 14 April 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 12–0 | Rob Wilkinson | TKO (knees and punches) | UFC 221 | 11 February 2018 | 2 | 3:37 | Perth, Australia | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 11–0 | Stuart Dare | KO (head kick) | Hex Fight Series 12 | 24 November 2017 | 1 | 4:53 | Melbourne, Australia | Won the vacant HEX Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–0 | Melvin Guillard | TKO (punches) | Australian FC 20 | 28 July 2017 | 1 | 4:49 | Melbourne, Australia | Won the vacantAFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–0 | Murad Kuramagomedov | TKO (punches) | WLF E.P.I.C.: Elevation Power in Cage 4 | 28 May 2016 | 2 | 1:05 | Henan, China | |
| Win | 8–0 | Andrew Flores Smith | TKO (corner stoppage) | Glory of Heroes 2 | 7 May 2016 | 1 | 5:00 | Shenzhen, China | |
| Win | 7–0 | Dibir Zagirov | TKO (punches) | WLF E.P.I.C.: Elevation Power in Cage 2 | 13 March 2016 | 2 | 2:23 | Henan, China | |
| Win | 6–0 | Vladimir Katykhin | TKO (doctor stoppage) | WLF E.P.I.C.: Elevation Power in Cage 1 | 13 January 2016 | 2 | 2:13 | Henan, China | |
| Win | 5–0 | Gele Qing | TKO (elbows) | Wu Lin Feng 2015: New Zealand vs. China | 19 September 2015 | 2 | 3:37 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 4–0 | Maui Tuigamala | TKO (kick to the body) | Fair Pay Fighting 1 | 5 September 2015 | 2 | 1:25 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 3–0 | Song Kenan | TKO (head kick) | The Legend of Emei 3 | 8 August 2015 | 1 | 1:59 | Chengdu, China | Catchweight (187 lb) bout. |
| Win | 2–0 | John Vake | TKO (punches) | Shuriken MMA: Best of the Best | 15 June 2013 | 1 | 4:43 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Win | 1–0 | James Griffiths | TKO (punches) | Supremacy FC 9 | 24 March 2012 | 1 | 2:09 | Auckland, New Zealand | Middleweight debut. |
| 75 wins (27’(T)KOs), 5 losses, 0 draws | ||||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-03-04 | Loss |  Alex Pereira | Glory of Heroes 7 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | KO (left hook)[227] | 3 | 0:42 | |
| 2017-01-20 | Loss |  Jason Wilnis | Glory 37: Los Angeles | Los Angeles, California, US | Decision (unanimous)[228] | 5 | 3:00 | |
| For theGlory Middleweight Championship. | ||||||||
| 2016-10-21 | Win | Yousri Belgaroui | Glory 34: Denver – Middleweight Contender Tournament Finals | Broomfield, Colorado, US | Decision (split) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| WinsGlory 34: Denver – Middleweight Contender Tournament Championship. | ||||||||
| 2016-10-21 | Win |  Robert Thomas | Glory 34: Denver – Middleweight Contender Tournament, Semi Finals | Broomfield, Colorado, US | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2016-10-01 | Win |  Bogdan Stoica | Glory of Heroes 5 | Zhengzhou, China | KO (left mid kick) | 2 | 1:45 | |
| 2016-09-17 | Win |  Romain Falendry | Rise of Heroes 1 | Chaoyang, Liaoning,China | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2016-08-06 | Win | Yousri Belgaroui | Glory of Heroes 4 | Changzhi, China | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2016-07-02 | Win |  Filip Verlinden | Glory of Heroes 3 | Jiyuan,Henan,China | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2016-06-25 | Win |  Vitaly Kodin | Wu Lin Feng | China | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2016-04-02 | Loss | Alex Pereira | Glory of Heroes 1 | Shenzhen, China | Decision (unanimous)[229] | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2016-01-30 | Win |  Carl N'Diaye | The Legend of Emei 7 – Wenjiang | Wenjiang, China | KO (left hook to the body) | 1 | 3:00 | |
| 2015-10-31 | Win |  Jamie Eades | King in the Ring 100 – The Heavyweights III, Final | Auckland, New Zealand | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| WinsKing in the Ring 100 – The Heavyweights III Tournament Championship. | ||||||||
| 2015-10-31 | Win |  Dan Roberts | King in the Ring 100 – The Heavyweights III, Semi Finals | Auckland, New Zealand | KO (Uppercut) | 1 | 0:26 | |
| 2015-10-31 | Win | Nase Foai | King in the Ring 100 – The Heavyweights III, Quarter Finals | Auckland, New Zealand | TKO (Corner stoppage) | 3 | N/A | |
| 2015-04-11 | Win | Pati Afoa | King in the Ring 86 – The Cruiserweights III, Final | Auckland, New Zealand | KO (Right cross) | 1 | 0:52 | |
| WinsKing in the Ring 86 – The Cruiserweights III Tournament Championship. | ||||||||
| 2015-04-11 | Win | Mark Timms | King in the Ring 86 – The Cruiserweights III, Semi Finals | Auckland, New Zealand | TKO (Knee to the body) | 2 | N/A | |
| 2015-04-11 | Win | Kim Loudon | King in the Ring 86 – The Cruiserweights III, Quarter Finals | Auckland, New Zealand | TKO (Referee stoppage) | 3 | ||
| 2015-02-14 | Win | Kim Loudon | Knees of Fury 50 | Adelaide, Australia | TKO (retirement) | 4 | N/A | |
| 2014-10-25 | Win | Braid Jackson | Destiny Muay Thai 3 | Brisbane, Australia | KO | 2 | ||
| Wins the WBC Muay Thai International Cruiserweight title. | ||||||||
| 2014-10-11 | Win |  Joe Boobyer | Knees of Fury 48 | Hamilton, New Zealand | KO (Knee) | |||
| 2014-09-21 | Win |  Wenjie Guo | Kungfu Union | Dalian, China | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2014-08-30 | Win | Jamie Eades | King in the Ring 86 – The Cruiserweights II, Final | Auckland, New Zealand | KO (Knee to the body) | 1 | 1:08 | |
| WinsKing in the Ring 86 – The Cruiserweights II Tournament title. | ||||||||
| 2014-08-30 | Win | Pati Afoa | King in the Ring 86 – The Cruiserweights II, Semi Finals | Auckland, New Zealand | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:57 | |
| 2014-08-30 | Win |  Slava Alekseychik | King in the Ring 86 – The Cruiserweights II, Quarter Finals | Auckland, New Zealand | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2014-05-24 | Win | Charles August | Knees of Fury 46 | Adelaide, Australia | TKO (Knee) | 2 | ||
| Wins the WMC Oceania Cruiserweight title. | ||||||||
| 2014-04-12 | Loss | Filip Verlinden | Glory 15: Istanbul | Istanbul, Turkey | Decision (unanimous)[230] | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2014-02-16 | Loss | Simon Marcus | Kunlun Fight 2 – 80kg tournament, Semi Finals | Zhengzhou, China | Ext. R Decision (split)[231] | 4 | 3:00 | |
| 2013-11-27 | Win | Qin Shan | Wu Lin Feng 2013 | Anyang, China | TKO | 3 | N/A | |
| 2013-09-11 | Win | Nurla Mulali | Wu Lin Feng 2013 | Kashi, China | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2012-07-21 | Win | Niu Xiaoqiang | Wu Lin Feng 2012 | Auckland, New Zealand | KO (punches) | 3 | N/A | |
| 2012-06-23 | Win | Xu Yi | Wu Lin Feng 2012 | Foshan, China | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2012-08-25 | Win | Gary Williams | Knees of Fury 38 | Adelaide, Australia | Decision (Split) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2012-05-26 | Win | Gary Williams | Knees of Fury 37 | Adelaide, Australia | Decision (Split) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2012-02-25 | Win | Steve Behan | Knees of Fury 36 | Adelaide, Australia | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2011-09-24 | Win | Guo Qiang | CI-K | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | TKO (referee stoppage) | 3 | N/A | |
| 2011-06-11 | Win | Guo Qiang | Wu Lin Feng 2011 | Shangqiu,China | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2011-02-12 | Win | Eds Eramiha | Rumble in the Ville | Auckland, New Zealand | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Wins the WKBF Muay Thai New Zealand Cruiserweight title. | ||||||||
| 2010-12-04 | Win | Eds Eramiha | Puma 8 Man Tournament | New Zealand | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| 2010-12-04 | Win | Ti'i Nanai | Puma 8 Man Tournament | New Zealand | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| 2010-12-04 | Win | Areta Gilbert | Puma 8 Man Tournament | New Zealand | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| 2010-09-01 | Win | Zac Fatamaka | Auckland Fight Night 2010 | Auckland,New Zealand | Decision | N/A | N/A | |
| 2010-07-17 | Win | Ben Davis | Lee Gar 35th Year Anniversary | New Zealand | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| 2010-05-16 | Win | Tim Atonio | Fight Force | Melbourne, Australia | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| 2010-04-23 | Win | Jerry Seagar | Bring the South to the City 3 | New Zealand | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes | ||||||||
| 6 fights | 5 wins | 1 loss |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Lance Bryant | UD | 3 | 3 November 2015 | SkyCity, Auckland, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament IV: cruiserweight final[143] |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Zane Hopman | UD | 3 | 3 November 2015 | SkyCity, Auckland, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament IV: cruiserweight semi-final |
| 4 | Win | 3–1 | Brian Minto | SD | 3 | 28 March 2015 | Horncastle Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament III: cruiserweight final[142] |
| 3 | Win | 2–1 | Lance Bryant | MD | 3 | 28 March 2015 | Horncastle Arena, Christchurch, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament III: cruiserweight semi-final |
| 2 | Win | 1–1 | Asher Derbyshire | KO | 2 (3) | 28 March 2015 | Horncastle Arena,Christchurch, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament III: cruiserweight quarter-final |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Daniel Ammann | UD | 3 | 22 November 2014 | North Shore Events Centre,Auckland, New Zealand | Super 8 Boxing Tournament II: cruiserweight quarter-final[232] |
| Sporting positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed martial arts titles | ||||
| Vacant Title last held by Robert Whittaker | 2ndUFC Interim Middleweight Champion 13 April 2019 – 6 October 2019 | Vacant | ||
| Preceded by | 11thUFC Middleweight Champion 6 October 2019 – 12 November 2022 | Succeeded by | ||
| Preceded by | 13thUFC Middleweight Champion 8 April 2023 – 10 September 2023 | Succeeded by | ||
| Kickboxing titles | ||||
| Preceded by TY Williams | 2ndKing in the Ring Cruiserweight Champion 30 August 2014 – 11 April 2015 Vacated | Vacant | ||
| Vacant | 3rdKing in the Ring Cruiserweight Champion 11 April 2015 – 17 November 2017 Vacated | Succeeded by Slava Alexeichik | ||
| Preceded by | 3rdKing in the Ring Heavyweight Champion 31 October 2015 – 30 June 2017 Vacated | Succeeded by Carlos Ulberg | ||
| Boxing titles | ||||
| Preceded by | 1stSuper 8 Boxing Cruiserweight Champion 28 March 2015 | Incumbent | ||
| Preceded by Israel Adesanya | 2ndSuper 8 Boxing Cruiserweight Champion 3 November 2015 | Incumbent | ||
| Awards | ||||
| Preceded by | World MMA Breakthrough of the Year 2018 | Succeeded by | ||
| Preceded by | New Zealand's Sportsman of the Year 2019 | Succeeded by | ||
| Preceded by | World MMA Fighter of the Year 2019–20 | Succeeded by | ||
Updated to 27 January 2026 |
