After Four Straight Losses, Israel Adesanya Chose to Rebuild Everything | Funded Ep. 15

Summary

The subtitles contain no video timecodes, so exact timestamps for the fight moments are unavailable.

Israel Adesanya’s conversation on Funded looks back at pivotal fights and how he responds to setbacks.

Pivotal Fights

Adesanya describes the Kelvin Gastelum fight at UFC 236 in Atlanta as a personal turning point. Gastelum knocked him down in the first round, and Adesanya fought back. Gastelum hurt him again late in the fourth. Before the fifth, Adesanya told himself, “You can’t beat me. I’m ready to die.” He went on to win, a result he says showed him how far he could push himself. The bout was later inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.

Against Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Adesanya and his corner changed tactics, choosing to work at closer range rather than stick to the original plan. He says the adjustment paid off in the second round, when he finished Whittaker and unified the belts. In their later rematch, Adesanya knocked Whittaker down in the first round and won, but regrets not trusting his instincts and taking a more creative approach.

Adesanya also revisits his rivalry with Alex Pereira. Their earlier kickboxing meetings included a disputed decision loss in China and a knockout loss in Brazil. In their first UFC fight, at Madison Square Garden, Adesanya says he was ahead and had hurt Pereira before Pereira rallied to knock him out in the fifth round. In their later UFC fight in Miami, Adesanya says he entered with renewed confidence despite injuring his leg during camp. He describes baiting Pereira with the injured leg, finding an opening, and knocking him out.

Setbacks and Personal Growth

A broader theme of the interview is learning from defeat rather than blaming others. After four consecutive losses, Adesanya took months to consider his future. He eventually left City Kickboxing, the gym that had helped shape his career, to build his own team. He describes the decision as considered rather than emotional and says he now works with wrestling coach Andre as head coach.

Adesanya also discusses self-awareness, accountability, and managing outside criticism. A lesson from therapy that he often returns to is: “Don’t react, respond.”

Life Beyond Fighting

Adesanya says his family keeps him grounded, while dancing and creative expression influence his fighting style. He also values helping people around him succeed. He is focused on rebuilding, trusts the team he is creating, and wants to keep moving forward.

Presenters and Sources

• Guest: Israel Adesanya
• Co-host: Terence
• Other host: Not identified in the subtitles
• Podcast: Funded, a Tradeify podcast