- The Last Stylebender admonished his supporters and admirers to create their own path and draw inspiration from him and other celebrated and accomplished athletes.
Nigerian-born UFC star, Israel Adesanya, has implored young people and aspiring athletes not to follow his footsteps and chart their own course.
Adesanya gave the advice while fielding questions when he attended a Celestial Church of Christ service in Lagos.
The Last Stylebender admonished his supporters and admirers to create their own path and draw inspiration from him and other celebrated and accomplished athletes.
The fighter, who donned a Celestial garment in a video online, also underscored the importance of faith in his career, adding that after preparing for fights, he also holds onto faith.
He said: “Don’t try and follow in my footsteps. I’d say create your path. Get inspiration from someone like myself and what I have done and use it to further yourself in your own life.
“I feel like people trying to copy what someone’s done right now isn’t worth it. If you’re inspired by what someone has done, take that inspiration and use it in your own life.”
“Faith is something you have to have in this life. You can’t walk by side, you have to walk by faith. Faith has guided me a lot through my life and not just my career alone.
“I just trust in myself and trust in the high power. I trust and believe in who I am and I stand steadfast in it.”
“I prepare for my fight through training, hard work, and sometimes, you don’t know what the outcome is going to be and you just have to have faith.
“Faith is something I hold on to in life in general and it helps me in all parts of my life and even in my career,” Adesanya added.
The Nigerian-born athlete, who arrived in Lagos last Wednesday, received a hero’s welcome despite his recent UFC 305 loss to South African fighter, Dricus Du Plessis.
He had also visited his hometown of Esa-Oke in Osun State.
Adesanya had also been spotted enjoying the Lagos nightlife as he hit a popular club on Lagos Island Friday night.
The mixed martial arts star shared glimpses of his outing on his Instagram stories, drawing attention from fans and celebrities alike.
Despite losing to Dricus du Plessis in a thrilling UFC 305 main event, Adesanya reportedly earned more than the reigning champion.
The bout, which took place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, saw Du Plessis successfully defend his UFC Middleweight Championship for the first time, forcing Adesanya to tap out in the fourth round.
The fight, which was the first-ever UFC title clash between two African fighters, held significant historical importance and generated substantial financial rewards for both competitors.
According to reports from The Sportster, Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion, was guaranteed $750,000 for the fight, while Du Plessis got $500,000.