Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya has cemented his legacy as one of the most dynamic and effective middleweights in modern mixed martial arts (MMA) history. His transition to the UFC in 2018 was marked by an almost immediate ascent to stardom, built on phenomenal striking technique cultivated during his career in professional kickboxing.
However, recent reflections by the former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion reveal a crucial, contentious chapter from his kickboxing past—a perceived injustice that, ironically, may have been the catalyst for his entire MMA career.
The Glory 37 Title Contention: A Bitter Pill
During a recent Q&A session in Thailand, Adesanya revisited his final years in the kickboxing promotion, Glory. Specifically, he focused on his challenge for the Glory Middleweight title in 2017 against then-champion Jason Wilnis. The result was a unanimous decision loss, a verdict Adesanya firmly disputes to this day.
Adesanya characterized the outcome of that night in Los Angeles as “crooked,” suggesting institutional bias played a hand in the scoring. The primary accusation centered on geopolitical preference, implying the promotion favored the reigning Dutch champion over the rising New Zealander.
“With Glory though, I just felt they screwed me out of a world title because they wanted the Dutch guy to win,” Adesanya stated plainly. “So, yeah, that just made me really salty and you know me, I’m a petty guy, so I hold grudges.”
While Adesanya later softened his critique by acknowledging Glory`s positive role in developing the sport and supporting kickboxers, the sentiment remains clear: the feeling of being robbed instilled a profound sense of dissatisfaction with the kickboxing structure.
The Unexpected Catalyst for MMA Stardom
In competitive sports, perceived failures often act as defining pivot points. For Adesanya, the contentious loss to Wilnis, followed shortly by his knockout loss to perennial rival Alex Pereira (the second time he’d lost to `Poatan` in kickboxing), severed his emotional ties to the kickboxing world. Had he secured the Glory title that night in 2017, his career trajectory might have been dramatically different, perhaps delaying or even derailing his pivot to MMA.
Instead, Adesanya signed with the UFC the following year, bringing his elite striking skills into a new environment where he quickly capitalized on the relatively limited striking arsenals of many middleweight opponents. The rest, as they say, is history: a dominant run to the UFC title, numerous defenses, and eventually, avenging his previous losses to Alex Pereira in the Octagon at UFC 287.
The sting of the Wilnis loss—a bureaucratic defeat rather than a definitive physical one—fueled his aggressive pursuit of success in a new arena, leading to a remarkable dual-sport redemption narrative.
From Middleweight to Heavyweight: Assessing Rico Verhoeven’s Octagon Potential
Adesanya’s commentary on his kickboxing past naturally led to discussions about the future of other Glory legends, specifically heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven, who has recently relinquished his title to pursue other ventures, hinting heavily at a potential MMA transition to the UFC.
Adesanya offered unique insight into Verhoeven’s capabilities, recalling a time they sparred when Adesanya was brought in to help Anthony “Rumble” Johnson prepare for a fight against Jon Jones.
Reflecting on the session, Adesanya underscored the physical disparity:
- Adesanya was a middleweight; Verhoeven was a heavyweight.
- “I could touch him but it wasn’t really doing anything, he was just moving me around,” Adesanya recounted.
Despite this size difference, Adesanya believes Verhoeven is taking the MMA transition seriously, noting that top kickboxers often cross-train in other disciplines long before making an official switch.
“He’s been training MMA for a while,” Adesanya confirmed. “Just because some people kickbox and specialize in kickboxing doesn’t mean they’re not doing other disciplines as well. I think he’s been very well-versed in mixed martial arts so we’ll find out.”
The Enduring Grudge of a Champion
Israel Adesanya’s career is defined by his willingness to face challenges and avenge losses, both in the ring and in the cage. His ultimate triumph over Alex Pereira settled the psychological score from his kickboxing days, yet the wound inflicted by the alleged scoring corruption against Jason Wilnis clearly remains unhealed.
It’s a powerful reminder that behind the flashy maneuvers and the theatrical entrances, even the greatest fighters are driven by human emotions—pride, ambition, and yes, sometimes, a touch of pettiness regarding perceived injustices. In Adesanya’s case, being “screwed” out of a kickboxing title might just be the greatest accidental favor ever bestowed upon his MMA career, giving us one of the sport`s most compelling champions.
