“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.”

Nigerian-New Zealander mixed martial artist, born 1989

Israel Adesanya is a Nigerian-New Zealander professional mixed martial artist, former kickboxer, and boxer. Born in 1989, he competes in the UFC middleweight division and is a former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion. He first built his name in kickboxing before moving fully into mixed martial arts. His career is defined by striking, championship runs in the UFC, and a background that also includes boxing, with his profile shaped by competition at the highest level of the sport.