Israel Adesanya gained prominence not just for being a dominant UFC champion, but also for his blunt statements outside the Octagon. Be it religion, politics, or other global matters, he never refrains from speaking his mind.
“The Last Stylebender” ignores the trolls and has frequently talked about anime’s impact on his personal life. He aims to live a spiritual life through meditation, and unsurprisingly, fans are curious to know about his religious beliefs as well.
Ahed of his return at UFC 305, here’s whether Adesanya follows religion and a rundown of his statements on God…
What Did Israel Adesanya Say About God?
Adesanya discussed his stance on god and religion on the IMPAULSIVE Podcast hosted by Logan Paul and Mike Majlak in 2023. He confronted his parents about the creator of god during his childhood and got no satisfactory answers.
“I grew up in a Religious household. But when I was young, Sunday school, I remember asking like my Sunday school teacher. Well, if God made the world, then who made God? And no one had an answer for me. I asked my parents and then what, I asked my housemates.”
The former UFC middleweight kingpin then pointed out a few experiences where he felt like talking to God. Regardless, he doesn’t follow any religion ardently but has indicated his Christian bent through tweets like this:
Interestingly, though, fans spotted “Izzy” in a church service in 2023 where he motivated the youth. Following his split-decision win over Marvin Vettori in 2018, he talked about self-criticism and Jesus Christ’s crucifixion in the post-fight show.
“Even Jesus Christ, he was the greatest guy of all time; he got crucified. I welcome all the criticism. Because it’s good for me. I criticize myself.”
Another pivotal point regarding religion in Adesanya’s life was the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand. After the attack, he showed solidarity and admitted to learning about other religions like Islam.
Long story short, Adesanya openly follows no religion but has seemed to be eager to know about other cultures, religions, and beliefs. He was born in a Christian household and has self-admittedly followed a spiritual path in life.
What Tribe Does Israel Adesanya Belong To?
Adesanya belongs to the Yoruba tribe, one of the biggest ethnic groups in Nigeria. Despite moving to New Zealand in his early teenage, he’s proud of his African identity. This explains why Dricus Du Plessis questioning his legitimacy as a ‘real’ African UFC champ enraged “The Last Stylebender”.
A lot of Yoruba people have started following Christianity or Islam over the years.
