- 07/09/2023
Israel Adesanya (24-2, fighting out of Auckland, New Zealand) looks to start his second title reign with a bang by delivering a highlight finish against Sean Strickland
UFC middleweight champion
No. 5 men’s pound-for-pound fighter
16 wins by KO
Six first-round finishes
Holds wins over Alex Pereira, Robert Whittaker (twice), and Anderson Silva
UFC middleweight champion
No. 5 men’s pound-for-pound fighter
16 wins by KO
Six first-round finishes
Holds wins over Alex Pereira, Robert Whittaker (twice), and Anderson Silva
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 [INAUDIBLE]
00:09 >> Well Israel, welcome back.
00:11 >> Thank you for having me.
00:12 >> Back to Sydney, back to Australia.
00:14 And this time you didn't come alone,
00:16 you actually, it sounds like you brought Sean Strickland with you to Sydney.
00:18 Because it sounds like without you, this fight would not be happening here.
00:21 Is that correct?
00:21 >> You are 100% correct.
00:23 I got him his first passport.
00:26 I got him his first flight out of his country.
00:30 I got him his big money fight.
00:32 So he should be really grateful after this.
00:35 He should be really grateful for the opportunity.
00:38 I mean this, this is sincere.
00:39 He should really, cuz he's talking all this shit.
00:42 It's whatever, but he should really be grateful,
00:44 cuz I'm changing his life for the better.
00:46 >> He was just in here talking to us.
00:49 >> Fill me in.
00:50 >> You can sort of imagine it.
00:51 He did say thank you, but- >> He did?
00:54 >> Yeah, he said thanks.
00:55 >> That's cool.
00:56 Look at that.
00:56 You teach him nice.
00:57 You teach him nice things.
00:58 >> I can't guarantee he's being sincere, but he did say it.
01:00 >> I'll take it.
01:01 >> He's obviously not really cutting a very serious figure.
01:06 He's not coming in here like I'm ready to get the job done.
01:08 He's coming here, he's cracking jokes.
01:09 Do you think that's sort of an example of how he's really feeling about the fight?
01:13 Or is that just how he's trying to push the nerves off until the end of the week?
01:18 >> I think that makes him really dangerous.
01:21 I think that's what makes him dangerous.
01:26 He doesn't care.
01:27 He knows I'm gonna beat him.
01:30 So he doesn't care.
01:32 He's gonna try and do his best to beat me by any means necessary.
01:37 I've been there before, even my last fight.
01:40 I knew I could beat this guy.
01:41 I was like, I can fucking beat this guy.
01:43 I almost beat him every fucking time.
01:45 And I beat him the first time, but I know I can beat this guy.
01:48 And then he ended up beating me.
01:50 But I was just like, okay, everyone's counting me out.
01:52 I'm the underdog.
01:54 So I was like, right, bet, I'm gonna use this and I don't care.
01:57 I'm gonna give everything to this fight.
01:59 And that makes you a dangerous man.
02:01 A man with nothing to lose and everything to gain is a dangerous man.
02:05 >> He admits that before the prayer fight, he should have wrestled.
02:09 He should have gone in there and then he didn't, right?
02:11 He goes in there and he wants to prove a point.
02:13 He said ahead of your fight, I've been wrestling, I've been wrestling.
02:16 But sometimes you go in there and it goes out of his head.
02:18 Do you think he'll have an ego about his own stand up that when this guy who's
02:22 supposedly superior, he'll have to match you or will he shoot for the legs?
02:26 >> I mean, he did say he's a better striker than me, so I welcome him to try.
02:31 But I think his team is too smart.
02:35 He trains at Extreme Couture, he's got Eric, Ray Cepho and them on his team.
02:42 So if he listens to his coaches, this is different.
02:46 This is not just a regular fight.
02:47 His ego is gonna take him place.
02:49 He wants this.
02:51 I know he wants that.
02:53 He tries to push it away like you say, just to like, I guess,
02:57 how do you do, what do you call it?
03:00 Like just like to relieve yourself of the pressure, if you will.
03:03 But I think he's gonna wrestle.
03:06 I think he's gonna wrestle and I got something for his ass cuz me and
03:09 my buddy Craig Jones be hanging out a lot, a lot.
03:13 So yeah, we've been around the world.
03:16 We've been training and I've been doing this for a long time and
03:19 I'm yet to choke a motherfucker out.
03:23 So that's one thing that's on my list and I hope he wrestles.
03:27 If not, cool, stand and bang, do the man dance as you will.
03:31 He's selling wolf tickets when he talks about that, by the way.
03:33 It's just, I don't think he's gonna man dance with me.
03:36 And if he does, I'm a better dancer than him.
03:39 >> He talks like, I wanna kill and
03:43 all this sort of hyper aggressive stuff.
03:46 But do you believe- >> Cap.
03:47 >> When you look at the other guys you fought,
03:51 is he this really tough guy that can get in there and have a war and
03:53 see you through to the end?
03:54 Or is it just these are all words that just disappear when he steps in the cage?
03:59 >> He looks good against guys who are human punching bags.
04:01 Roll back the tape, UFC 253.
04:06 I said the same thing about Paolo Costa.
04:07 And this is not my ego talking.
04:08 This is just me speaking strictly facts.
04:11 I said, Paolo looks good against guys who are human punching bags.
04:15 Look at fucking DeSean's last fight.
04:17 He fought the bus and he was a fucking human punching bag.
04:21 Just stood there and go beat the fuck up.
04:23 And I told you guys, Paolo would not catch me.
04:26 I will catch him eventually.
04:28 And I told him I was knocking the fuck out.
04:30 And I did.
04:32 Again, this is not my ego talking.
04:33 This is me speaking facts.
04:35 Sean fights guys and looks good against them because they let him look good
04:39 against them and they let him get in their head.
04:42 But again, I've done this how many times?
04:45 This is deja vu.
04:46 This is deja vu to me.
04:47 Like all this shit's semi fun.
04:50 But what I really wanna do is just fight.
04:52 I really wanna fight and showcase and also watch my team showcase as well before me.
04:56 And yeah, all that's cap.
04:58 You have one chance to make a first impression.
05:00 And he already failed that when I tapped him on the ass.
05:02 You all saw the receipts, right?
05:04 I wasn't trying to be a dick.
05:05 I was just saying hello.
05:06 Then he gets on stage and starts talking shit.
05:08 I'm gonna come down there and you're gonna fight.
05:10 You can get my number.
05:12 And I'm like, three minutes ago you were.
05:17 And then after that backstage, he just B-lines away from me.
05:22 And I was just like, all right, cap.
05:24 And anytime he tries to act tough in front of people, it doesn't have the same
05:28 sting at all because you know when danger is real, fear is in the mind.
05:33 Like, where did I hear that from?
05:35 I can't remember what quote I hear that from.
05:36 But it's in his head.
05:40 He tries to act like a tough guy.
05:41 He's a tough guy.
05:42 He's a good fighter.
05:42 He's a good pressure fighter, all that, against human punching bags.
05:45 But there's no danger with him.
05:48 Last time I saw him in Vegas, I smacked him in the dick because I
05:50 knew he wasn't dangerous to me.
05:51 And then he tried to push me.
05:52 I said, don't touch me, bro.
05:54 I was like, huh.
05:55 I just jumped over my seat and I just kept on watching my fights.
05:58 Last one for me.
06:00 I think everyone sort of-- we spoke about it.
06:02 You know, oh, the press conference is going to be great, but the fight's
06:04 going to be whatever.
06:05 So people are kind of assuming you're walking in there and going
06:07 through this guy pretty easily.
06:09 Does that add pressure to you?
06:10 Or does that just make you think, this is going to be fun?
06:13 No, I don't even think about it.
06:15 I don't listen to those voices.
06:18 I hear people say, the odds of this, the odds of that.
06:20 I'm putting my parlay on you, bro.
06:23 Fuck your parlay.
06:24 I put my life on this shit.
06:25 So yeah, I don't listen to those voices.
06:29 I look at myself as the underdog in this fight.
06:32 I don't even know where my belt is at.
06:34 This is not even my belt. I don't give a fuck.
06:37 I just want to beat people up, make lots of money,
06:40 beat people up in different styles till I retire.
06:43 And then I'll look back and be like, fuck, I was the man.
06:46 Or I'm the man.
06:47 But yeah, in the meantime, Sean's next.
06:49 I focus on him.
06:51 And I don't take him lightly.
06:53 I don't underestimate him, but I don't overestimate him.
06:56 And he's a dangerous guy, but I have a habit of making
06:59 dangerous guys look easy.
07:02 I think Will Smith said that quote, by the way.
07:04 Oh, is that movie "With a Son"?
07:06 That's right, yeah.
07:07 "Fears in the Mind, Dangerous Real."
07:09 Yeah, it's just-- he's a dangerous guy if you let him
07:14 be, but I'm not stupid.
07:18 -I'm curious, do you dislike Sean at all?
07:21 Because he's bringing up the Chinese flag, questioning your
07:24 manhood and everything.
07:25 He brings it up quite often.
07:26 -Chinese thing, I don't give a fuck.
07:27 Actually, I've traveled around the world.
07:31 I've worked around the world.
07:32 I've fought around the world.
07:33 I've acted around the world.
07:35 I've never even addressed it, because look, if I gave a fuck
07:38 I'd address it.
07:38 I'd tell you why exactly that clip, or what it was.
07:41 But I really don't give a fuck.
07:42 I've been working around the world.
07:44 I'm making bags.
07:46 Only thing he said was one clip someone sent to me, and
07:48 he's questioning my morals and saying something.
07:52 And I was like, you've never even had a conversation with
07:54 me, and you're questioning--
07:55 so that one is one I'm doing on Michael Jordan, and I'm
07:58 taking that one personally, so I can use that against him.
08:01 But everything else, I don't care.
08:03 OK, anime.
08:05 OK.
08:07 All right.
08:09 [LAUGHTER]
08:10 OK, fuck.
08:11 Like his insults are like--
08:12 he's that fucking--
08:14 that idiot in the back of the class that just talks over you
08:17 and talks loud just to get his point across.
08:19 And again, last time he ambushed me because I wasn't
08:22 expecting that, and I told him, focus on your opponent,
08:24 because you're going to get knocked the fuck out.
08:26 And what happened?
08:27 He got knocked the fuck out.
08:29 You also said that you envision a
08:30 spectacular finish in this.
08:33 You want to kind of put the exclamation point on the city
08:35 kickboxing lineup on this card.
08:37 So when you say spectacular, what is that?
08:39 Is that a knockout?
08:39 Is it your first submission in the UFC?
08:41 Is it just a back and forth fight?
08:43 There's a few options.
08:44 There's always--
08:45 when you visualize these things, there's a few options,
08:47 a few timelines this could just go.
08:50 But yeah, there's a few of them.
08:52 But there's three main ones that I really am honing on,
08:56 but I can't tell you guys just because they're mine.
08:58 But I guarantee you I'll finish this guy.
09:00 -The last one for me, I know you've done a lot of Q&As about
09:02 your documentary that just came out.
09:04 So what's the reception been for the movie?
09:06 -It's been dope.
09:07 I think Sean should watch it.
09:08 He might learn something, to be honest.
09:09 I've even said, when I did the Q&A on Monday, when people
09:15 watched my doco, I said, look, the main thing--
09:18 that's Style Ben, the documentary, by the way,
09:20 coming soon.
09:21 Australia, New Zealand, September 28.
09:23 After that, soon to streaming platforms.
09:28 I said to people, what I want people to get from that
09:30 documentary is, I'm not saying be like me.
09:34 I'm just saying be like you.
09:36 Be authentically you.
09:37 And don't give a fuck what anyone else thinks.
09:38 Whether I'm not saying look at me and dress the way I dress,
09:42 or paint your nails, or fight.
09:45 I'll just say, look it.
09:47 Man, that guy Styles is just unapologetically himself.
09:51 And he's just bearing his chest to the world, showing his
09:54 heart to the world, his heart on his sleeve, and doesn't
09:56 care whether you like it or not.
09:58 He's just happy.
09:59 So for me, I'm really happy.
10:01 This, so far, is the best year of my life yet, because I've
10:04 really just embraced me and not giving a fuck what
10:08 anyone else says.
10:10 It always helps that I can kick ass, because I'm just
10:11 like, what the fuck are you going to tell me shit?
10:13 But yeah, even without that, I'm just saying, fucking just
10:17 be you, bro.
10:17 So what I want people to get from the documentary is just
10:19 like, express yourself authentically.
10:21 And I will say this.
10:23 I respect that from Sean.
10:24 I respect the fact that he expresses himself
10:26 authentically and does not give a fuck what anyone thinks.
10:29 I respect that.
10:32 He looks at me and he gets away.
10:34 Oh, no, no, no, no.
10:36 But again, I don't care.
10:37 That says more about him than it does about me, because I'm
10:40 expressing myself authentically.
10:42 And I'll beat your ass, Sean.
10:43 I will beat your ass.
10:45 -Israel, you posted some footage of Sean sparring, and
10:49 you seem kind of disgusted by it, I guess, maybe for lack of
10:52 a better word.
10:53 What do you just make of that etiquette?
10:55 -I call that gym heroes.
10:57 When he sparred Pereira, did he spar like that?
10:59 -Didn't look like it.
11:00 -Exactly, because he knows Pereira
11:02 would fucking knock him out.
11:04 It's called respect.
11:05 And I have teammates.
11:07 And we can push, but I don't try and hurt my teammates.
11:11 Like, he's knocking people out in the gym.
11:13 Accidentally, I've probably knocked two people out over
11:16 the last how many years I've been fighting in the gym
11:18 accidentally.
11:19 And it's--
11:22 not even knocked out, like dropped them, because it was
11:23 light, but like, you know.
11:25 It's just I don't try and hurt people.
11:27 I don't know.
11:28 There's many ways to skin a cat.
11:29 Look, whatever works for you, works for you.
11:31 But I just feel like I've seen too many of those now where
11:34 I'm just like, well, gym hero.
11:37 And then when he got his arm, think, oh, come on, man.
11:39 Oh, come on, man.
11:40 Why'd you do that, man?
11:41 When he got a taste of his own medicine, oh, come on, man.
11:43 Come on.
11:44 Don't fucking-- don't touch me, man.
11:45 Like, I do a real good impression of him, I just
11:48 realize, fucking hell.
11:49 But yeah.
11:51 He--
11:52 I just don't like gym heroes, man.
11:54 Like I said, when he spot Pereira, he didn't bring that
11:56 energy, because he knew Pereira would sleep the fuck
11:58 out of him.
12:00 Dana White's contender series just wrapped up a few minutes
12:03 ago, and Dana did a scrum after.
12:04 And he was asked about who could be next for this.
12:07 And he basically said about Drakos Tplassi's, you know I
12:09 don't like when guys turn down fights, and was kind of
12:12 like nonchalant about it.
12:14 Neither do I.
12:15 Yeah, do you think he'll be next?
12:16 I know Jared Cannonier is here in the backup position as
12:18 well, and they've been kind to people who do that solid
12:21 for them, so what do you think they're going to do?
12:23 I don't know, you have to ask Dana.
12:24 But yeah, Drakos doesn't know how to play the game.
12:27 Look, you can't sit on your fucking--
12:32 is it ranking or whatever, and think you got locked in.
12:35 This is the UFC.
12:37 If you look back at the history of the UFC, shit
12:39 happens, you know?
12:41 So he thought he was sitting pretty, but he might have to
12:44 fight two more times before he gets a shot at this.
12:45 But he doesn't call the shots, I do.
12:48 I need you to understand that I call the shots, you don't
12:50 call the shot, dickless.
12:52 You need to understand this.
12:53 You can sit pretty wherever you want, but if I decide to, I
12:58 might give it to whoever wins between Costa and Kamzat, not
13:00 you, but Jared's here, backup.
13:04 I didn't even know it was a backup until yesterday.
13:05 I saw him, I was like, what are you doing here?
13:07 Actual, I was like--
13:09 and he told me it was a backup.
13:10 I was like, oh shit, shows how much I know.
13:12 I don't really follow MMA news that much anymore, but like,
13:15 yeah, it's--
13:18 when I had the shot at Silva and Gaslam, I had other things
13:24 planned, you know?
13:25 I was hurt in the Gaslam fight.
13:26 That's why I didn't finish that triangle, because my
13:28 ankle was fucked.
13:29 So I had it locked on the ankle in the fifth round, that
13:31 triangle, I had it locked on the ankle that was fucked.
13:32 And I was like, fuck, I can't cinch it, so I'm going to use
13:35 the sweep him.
13:36 I used to sweep him and get him up.
13:37 But guess what?
13:38 That camp, I did that camp with a fucked up ankle.
13:42 There's many times I could have pulled out, but I've
13:43 still never pulled out of a fight, even though my pullout
13:45 game's strong.
13:46 I still have never pulled out of a fight, ever.
13:49 And I stand on that.
13:51 You are the cover athlete for the deluxe edition of the UFC
13:54 game two times now.
13:56 What does that kind of mean to you?
13:57 It's awesome.
13:59 I play the game.
13:59 It's better than the last one.
14:02 Like the fluidity, the buttons are changed a little bit.
14:05 I don't want to give too much away, but it's good.
14:08 It's really good.
14:09 And there's some surprises, some surprises you guys would
14:12 really like in this game.
14:14 And yeah, it's cool.
14:15 I don't know if anyone has done it twice.
14:16 Has anyone done it twice?
14:17 Connor, when?
14:18 It was him and Ronda.
14:20 Ah, OK.
14:21 Similar.
14:21 Sweet.
14:22 So yeah, it's cool to be on that same echelon of a guy
14:26 who's done it twice as well.
14:27 And yeah, it's cool.
14:30 I look forward to playing the proper game, not the beta or
14:33 the preloaded version.
14:35 And just last one for me.
14:37 When we talked to you in Perth earlier this year, we asked
14:40 you a little about Francis Nganou and his upcoming
14:42 prospects, and you were very confident that things were
14:45 going to pan out for him.
14:46 Now he's very close to having a fight with Tyson Fury.
14:49 It's around the corner.
14:51 How proud are you of your brother to pull all this off?
14:55 When I saw it on Instagram, first thing I did was
14:57 WhatsApp him.
14:58 I was like, I'm going to be there to witness history.
15:01 First thing I texted him was, I'm going to be there to
15:02 witness history.
15:03 I already booked my flight.
15:04 As soon as it was mentioned that the fight was happening,
15:06 I texted, I was like, we're going.
15:08 And a week later, they already invited me.
15:10 The sheikhs in Saudi Arabia invited me to come through.
15:12 So I was like, all right, well, I'm going to be there.
15:14 So I told you all, don't believe the hype.
15:17 Don't listen to the bullshit when people are trying to,
15:19 like, oh, we are withdrawing from the bidding or whatever.
15:23 Because you guys only see what happens for you to see.
15:27 You don't know what happens behind the scenes, behind the
15:28 curtains.
15:29 And yeah, I'm proud of him.
15:30 I'm proud of him.
15:32 He's leading the charge, put it that way.
15:35 And again, Rome wasn't built in a day, trust.
15:37 But he's leading the charge.
15:39 And I can't wait to see him make history.
15:41 That's going to be--
15:44 that's--
15:45 yeah.
15:45 And it's a long shot from people, what they say, this
15:48 and that, rah, rah, rah, rah.
15:50 But this man fears nothing.
15:52 If you listen to a story on what he's been through, like
15:56 before the UFC, he's fortified.
16:00 He's up here.
16:01 He's locked in.
16:02 He's a guy that you can't shake him.
16:03 You can't break him.
16:04 Look at him.
16:05 Just look at the man.
16:06 I'm fucking proud of him, man.
16:07 So yeah, shout to my big bro, Francis.
16:10 And I can't wait to watch him make history again.
16:15 Israel, just over here.
16:16 Over here, man.
16:17 Congrats again on the movie, man.
16:19 You gave a lot of fascinating insights into your life.
16:22 And you spoke to Aaron Bronsted of TSN
16:24 about how Sean reminds you of guys from your past, right?
16:27 And I wonder, there's probably times in your life where--
16:30 people like that, you weren't able to do something about it
16:32 in the moment, right, even though you wanted to.
16:35 I wonder how your mentality is now
16:37 and how it changes versus the younger you compared to now
16:40 when you actually are able to do something about it.
16:43 Do you still have that same desire?
16:45 Yeah, I mean, I did it to Costa.
16:46 I said the same thing.
16:47 He reminds me of idiots I used to deal with growing up.
16:51 But then now I'm capable.
16:53 And I've said this.
16:55 There are no good or bad people.
16:57 People are just capable of great good or great evil.
16:59 Like people try to act like they're virtuous,
17:01 but they don't really have a leg to stand on
17:02 because they're not dangerous.
17:03 I am now a dangerous man.
17:05 And I can choose to be a dangerous man,
17:07 or I can choose to be soft-hearted and kind.
17:10 And I'm mostly, in my life, soft-hearted and kind
17:12 until people start to fuck with me.
17:14 Then I'm like, right, I'm about to beat the fuck out of you.
17:16 I'm about to bully you.
17:17 So I have to become what I hate.
17:19 But I use my powers for good instead of evil.
17:22 And yeah, not saying I'm fucking a saint.
17:24 You guys already know.
17:24 I've told you guys since the jump.
17:26 I'm not your fucking saint.
17:27 I'm not your hero.
17:28 I'm not your guru.
17:29 But I'm just me.
17:31 And if you fuck with it, you fuck with it.
17:32 If you don't, you don't.
17:34 Guys like Sean, yeah, I've dealt with them all my life.
17:36 But again, there's nothing new to me.
17:39 Now I get the chance to beat the fuck out of them.
17:41 That's the difference.
17:42 And I'll do it again Sunday afternoon.
17:45 Has that helped you let go of some of those things
17:47 from your childhood, like the fact
17:49 that now you have the power to do something about that,
17:52 if you know what I mean?
17:53 Yeah.
17:54 I don't hold onto those things.
17:56 They definitely shape you.
17:58 They definitely shape you.
18:01 Growing up, it's all trauma.
18:03 It's all stuff that-- because some of the stuff I had to endure,
18:05 it's all trauma.
18:06 And even I've seen some stuff-- oh, fuck.
18:09 I found out yesterday.
18:10 Cunt was a neo-Nazi or some shit.
18:12 Yeah, I had no idea.
18:14 This shows you how much I look into it.
18:16 I had no fucking idea.
18:17 Breaking news.
18:18 But yeah, it's not something I'm going to hop on about.
18:22 Because it's stuff that he had to go through
18:25 and the stuff that he hasn't worked on that's still in him.
18:28 The thing is, the difference is I've done the work on myself
18:30 to overcome those traumas and to learn how to use it to better
18:35 myself, if you will.
18:36 And I'm a human being.
18:39 Of course, I've been insecure in certain times in my life.
18:41 So when you've done the work on yourself over and over
18:45 and over and over and over again,
18:47 when you see it in other people, you're like, oh,
18:49 I know where that's coming from.
18:50 So that's why when I say Sean's insecure,
18:51 I can see it because I see what he's
18:53 like in front of the cameras.
18:54 And I see what he's like backstage
18:56 and when it's just me and him.
18:57 And I'm just like, OK, I know where this is from.
19:00 And I know how to deal with this.
19:01 So I'll take him through a session, a nice therapy
19:04 session for free.
19:06 - Just on therapy, some of the most fascinating points
19:08 in your movie is you with the possibility manager,
19:11 just talking things out.
19:13 And this, without giving away, she presents you
19:16 with certain options.
19:17 At any point where you conflicted by, OK,
19:20 I could go in this direction for maybe inner peace or growth
19:23 as a person, but that would conflict with, say,
19:26 this direction where me as the entertainer, me for my career.
19:29 You know what I mean?
19:30 - Still happens still to this day.
19:32 And that's why I haven't been to the jungle to do the plant
19:35 medicines, because I don't want to-- it'll come to me.
19:39 When it comes, it comes.
19:40 When it calls me and it happens, it happens.
19:42 But right now, I've just kind of been a little bit hesitant,
19:46 because I just don't want to-- I've
19:49 used the example of Zuko as a firebender,
19:52 when he realized his friends were angry
19:54 and he can't firebend anymore.
19:56 Sean didn't know about this.
19:57 So yeah, he couldn't firebend anymore.
20:00 And he's like, what happened to my powers?
20:02 And it's because he became friends with Hang,
20:03 so he had no anger to bend from.
20:06 So yeah.
20:09 Who knows, man?
20:10 Who knows?
20:12 Right now, nah.
20:13 I like the chips and the dips on my shoulder.
20:15 It's served me well.
20:17 And I'm using it in a different manner.
20:20 I'm not jaded.
20:22 I'm not like-- I've seen videos of this kind of traffic,
20:24 like arguing with people and filming it,
20:26 talking about I'll get my gun out.
20:28 I can't remember the last time I had road rage.
20:31 I used to back in the day when I was working a 9 to 5,
20:32 trying to get to work because I'm late,
20:34 and it's fucking da-da-da-da, beep, beep, beep.
20:35 But now, do you want to cut in front of me?
20:37 Cut in front of me.
20:38 You probably need this wind more than me.
20:40 Your life sucks, because sometimes it be like that.
20:43 But yeah.
20:46 Yeah.
20:47 Me now, I'm literally-- I guess I'm happy.
20:49 That's the main thing.
20:50 I'm happy.
20:51 Life isn't always fucking rainbows and gold and unicorns
20:54 and roses and shit.
20:56 I go through shit as well, but I deal with it different.
20:58 That's the difference.
20:59 I deal with it a lot different.
21:00 And I bet you he goes through shit as well,
21:02 but he doesn't deal with it the way I do.
21:03 He just bottles it down, holds it in, and lets it build up.
21:09 And who knows what he does with it?
21:11 It's not my business.
21:12 I focus on me.
21:14 Just last one for me also.
21:15 You spoke about how you don't need the belt, so to speak.
21:18 It doesn't define who you are, which is a healthy attitude
21:21 to have.
21:21 There's big things in life.
21:22 I just wonder, when did you reach that realization?
21:26 And do you feel like you needed to get the belt first
21:28 before you could come to that realization?
21:30 I had a feeling because of things
21:32 that maybe Rashad has said in the past, Rashad Evans
21:35 and some other people.
21:37 But I was like, yeah, let me see.
21:39 So when I got it, it was awesome.
21:41 Defended it.
21:42 UFC 243, it's cool.
21:46 And I think shortly after that, I kind of like-- maybe
21:51 the Romero or Costa Fire, I just didn't really--
21:54 you'd never see me parade around with this thing
21:56 unless at the after party and I'm drunk.
21:58 I'm the man, so it's whatever.
22:00 But I don't care.
22:03 It looks good.
22:04 That's what it looks good.
22:05 It brings notoriety, more money, all that.
22:06 But even after I lost the belt, I told you,
22:09 they were still calling me champ.
22:10 In the streets, they still call me champ.
22:13 And people were still trying to get at me because fuck the belt.
22:16 I'm Israel Adesanya.
22:17 That name holds more weight than the belt.
22:20 That name holds more weight than the belt.
22:21 So yeah, I got the belt back.
22:24 Whoop-dee.
22:26 I'm sure Yuzi knows where it is.
22:27 It's probably at his house under his bed or something,
22:31 both of them.
22:32 But yeah, it is what it is.
22:34 And it's a healthy attitude to have.
22:35 But don't get me wrong, gold looks good on black skin.
22:38 And I love rocking that gold.
22:39 So it's going to stay with me for a while.
22:42 Thanks, man.
22:43 Israel Adesanya, after the Pereira fight,
22:46 John Ack and it called you the greatest middleweight
22:48 of all time.
22:49 Where do you think you rank in that discussion?
22:52 I don't.
22:53 I don't think about it.
22:54 Like I said, I don't think about these things.
22:56 I don't chase these numbers.
22:57 They chase me.
22:58 I just stay present.
23:00 I stay focused.
23:02 I stay ready.
23:04 That's why I fight so often.
23:05 But yeah, I just make sure I get my job done.
23:08 That's the main thing.
23:09 And then, like I said, I look back and I'm like, holy shit.
23:13 I've come so far.
23:15 Apparently it's my 11th title fight.
23:17 I had no idea in five years.
23:18 All these numbers people tell me about,
23:22 and they said I knocked out four of the six top guys
23:26 in the rankings or whatever.
23:27 I'm like, did I?
23:29 I can't even tell you who.
23:30 But yeah, I don't.
23:33 It just happens.
23:34 I just keep doing me.
23:36 And in saying that, so if you're not
23:38 chasing to be the greatest of all time, and as you said,
23:41 being a champion isn't as important to you now,
23:43 what are you chasing?
23:45 I was chasing that.
23:46 I was chasing the greatest of all time.
23:48 And I still think I'm one of the greatest of all time.
23:50 I put Alexander Volkanovsky as the greatest of all time
23:52 in my eyes because I see the work he does.
23:54 And he's my buddy.
23:55 And I love the way he fights.
23:56 He's one of my favorite fighters in history.
23:58 But I've never looked at-- when have I ever given
24:02 a fuck about the rankings?
24:04 You guys, if you know your history,
24:05 and you know how I talk, I don't give a fuck.
24:07 But I know I'm the best.
24:09 I know I'm the best.
24:10 And I'm not done yet.
24:11 I'm still going.
24:12 So I know when it's all said and done, I'll be the best.
24:14 And this is art.
24:15 This is like the whole Michael Jordan versus LeBron argument.
24:17 I saw my boy, Shaza Kazeem, he put an Instagram video
24:20 I saw today where he's like, enough with the debate.
24:23 Whenever you ever change someone's mind,
24:25 when you have that debate about LeBron versus Michael, never.
24:29 You know why?
24:30 Because it's art.
24:32 And art is subjective.
24:35 I don't need you to think the way I think.
24:38 You can think fucking Kobe's the greatest of all time.
24:42 You can think Magic Johnson's the greatest of all time.
24:46 And even with a rapper, Biggie or Tupac, who's your top five,
24:48 people-- it's like this fucking-- they just-- I don't
24:53 know.
24:54 Biggie and Tupac aren't even my top five rappers,
24:57 to be honest.
24:57 But that's art.
24:58 Because I didn't grow up in that-- I did grow up in the era,
25:00 but I wasn't really tapped into them until after they left.
25:04 And I love their music, don't get me wrong,
25:05 but they're not even in my top five,
25:07 because I grew up in this era.
25:09 And I have other guys who are in my top five.
25:11 And that's art.
25:12 It's subjective.
25:12 You can think whatever you want.
25:14 You don't have to think like the way everyone else wants
25:16 you to think and say what everyone else wants you to say.
25:19 Just say what you-- no one even thinks about why they think--
25:23 the things they do.
25:24 I question myself all the time.
25:27 If I have a feeling of maybe even jealousy or envy,
25:30 or I'm angry, or I'm sad about something,
25:31 I'm like, where's that coming from?
25:33 This is the work I've done.
25:34 If you watch the movie "Stylebender,"
25:36 "28th September," and also streaming "Path"
25:37 shortly after, you'll see I've done the work on myself.
25:40 And I'm like, where did that come from?
25:42 Where's that emotion come from?
25:44 And then when I identify the monster, then I kill it.
25:47 And then I made a move on my life.
25:49 And then sometimes in my rarest ugly head again,
25:51 and I'm like, oh, it's about to come out.
25:53 Squash.
25:54 Because I can sense it's coming.
25:55 So yeah, I'm not perfect, bro.
25:58 I'm fucking-- I'm human.
26:00 I'm a piece of shit sometimes.
26:01 But also, I'm the man sometimes, a lot of the times.
26:05 And that's just the dichotomy of being a human animal.
26:08 And people can't express that.
26:09 People, especially online, you dumb fucks
26:11 can't even understand, because you just
26:13 project your own shit onto me.
26:15 And you think I'll react the same way you'd react.
26:17 Example, "The Lost."
26:18 When I had it in New York, people
26:20 were like, oh, he's going to be fucking under a rock,
26:23 crying and cutting himself.
26:24 But I was like, I'm outside.
26:26 And they did not like that.
26:28 They were like, fuck.
26:29 We thought this would destroy him.
26:31 But nah, what doesn't kill me makes me stronger.
26:34 Israel, just to your left, over here.
26:36 February of 2020, you spoke at the Halberg Awards
26:40 after winning Sportsman of the Year.
26:42 During that speech, you mentioned
26:43 that New Zealand has a culture of tall poppy syndrome
26:46 towards its athletes.
26:47 You said, and I quote, "Understand this.
26:50 If you see one of us shining, whether it
26:51 be the netball team, the blackcaps, the sailors,
26:55 pump them up, embrace them.
26:56 Because if they win, we win.
26:58 If I win, you win."
27:00 Do you believe, since that speech three and a half years
27:02 ago, that that attitude has changed or shifted
27:05 at all towards yourself and other New Zealand sports
27:09 athletes?
27:10 No.
27:12 I'm not going to change the world.
27:14 I'm not going to be the guy to change the world.
27:16 But what I will do is influence my immediate circle,
27:19 those who come into my orbit, and try and spark a mind
27:24 or a few minds that will do the same, like a network of change.
27:28 And within a few generations, that culture might change.
27:31 But it hasn't changed.
27:32 I don't think so.
27:33 Majorly, it hasn't changed.
27:38 But I get a lot of support from the streets and the NZ.
27:40 Bro, when I go get my beetroot in the morning,
27:42 I get people like, you're the man, bro.
27:45 They'll toot at me.
27:46 Shout out to the NZ Warriors.
27:47 They're about to whoop Sydney again.
27:49 Or is it Sydney this weekend?
27:51 The Panthers, yeah, about to whoop them this weekend.
27:53 Saws, not saws.
27:54 They're my boys.
27:55 But yeah, they show me a lot of love.
27:57 They invite me to their games, to their facility.
27:59 And they train with Kai and John Vakke
28:02 for their wrestling and their positioning, when it
28:04 comes to being in the scrum.
28:06 I know sports.
28:07 But yeah, it's not changed heavily.
28:12 But again, Rome wasn't built in a day.
28:13 It's not going to change overnight.
28:15 I think it's just ingrained in the culture, where
28:17 like, people, like I said, people
28:19 will see someone doing well and think,
28:21 that's taken away from me.
28:24 I've never been that kind of person in my life.
28:26 I've never been a hater.
28:27 Like, you can see someone shining and be like,
28:30 fuck, that's dope.
28:31 I can't wait till it's my turn.
28:33 That's me.
28:34 When I see someone shining, I'm like, man,
28:37 that's fucking awesome.
28:39 I take inspiration from that.
28:40 And I use it to fuel myself, add to my fuel,
28:43 so I can power myself and propel myself to where I want to be.
28:46 But most people don't.
28:47 They see that and think like, it takes away from them.
28:51 And they start to hate and bombastic side eye.
28:55 You don't want that.
28:56 You want to be a supporter.
28:57 Like, trust me, you'll feel better.
28:59 You will feel better in your heart if you show love.
29:02 It's just nice to be nice.
29:06 And I'm a dick sometimes, trust me.
29:07 But again, I reflect whatever you give back to me.
29:10 And just one last one.
29:12 Considering all goes well Sunday against Sean,
29:14 you're quite an active champion.
29:15 You've been one of the most active champions in the UFC.
29:19 UFC 300's coming up first quarter of next year.
29:22 Is that sort of an event that you
29:24 would like your name a part of?
29:25 Most likely.
29:26 I'd love to headline that.
29:29 But we'll see.
29:31 Definitely, because I've watched UFC 100.
29:34 That was Brock Lesnar versus Frank Mir.
29:36 UFC 200, that was--
29:39 ah, hold up.
29:42 Fuck, it's coming to me.
29:43 No.
29:44 Mark Hunt was on that one.
29:45 He fought Brock Lesnar as well, did he?
29:47 Yeah.
29:48 Amanda Nunes, Misha Tate.
29:50 Who was the headline?
29:51 Fuck.
29:51 Nunes, Tate.
29:53 It was a Misha--
29:54 yeah, that's where it was.
29:55 It was supposed to be John.
29:56 That's right.
29:57 Fuck.
29:58 It was a big fight.
29:59 I was like, is it John?
30:01 Yeah, fought DC.
30:02 That's right.
30:03 Fuck.
30:03 Oh, man.
30:05 So either way, I've been a fan of the sport for a long time.
30:07 And UFC 300, I'm going to touch that,
30:11 because I know I'm not going to hit UFC 400.
30:12 So I'm definitely going to hit UFC 300.
30:14 That's one I'm going to be a part of.
30:17 And Alex Volkanovski as well, I feel, should be a part of.
30:20 I'll call a headline for Alex Volkanovski.
30:22 That's my dog.
30:24 But yeah, if he doesn't fight, then I'll headline it.
30:27 And I'm sure there's other people as well.
30:28 Conor will probably try and jump in there,
30:30 because he's a superstar.
30:31 He'll just get whatever he wants.
30:33 But yeah, we'll see.
30:36 We'll see.
30:37 I know we're just moments away, or hours away
30:39 from the open workout.
30:40 Stunner or rock bottom, what's the ultimate move
30:43 that you like?
30:43 I might just even do a Q&A, and let the fans talk shit.
30:47 And I'll just talk shit.
30:48 I just worked out before I came here.
30:50 I'm kind of still perspiring.
30:53 But yeah, I'm not-- open workout for me right now.
30:56 I haven't done that in ages.
30:59 Yeah, we'll see.
31:01 We'll see what the crowd-- sometimes the crowd
31:03 will just change my mind.
31:03 I get there, and I just feel the vibe.
31:04 And I'm like, ah, fuck it.
31:06 Let's go.
31:07 But right now, I'm not really in the mood
31:08 to do anything too flashy or too crazy.
31:10 So I might just get Andre to hold the pads
31:13 and just do some basic shit.
31:14 And I'd rather just show love to the fans,
31:17 give a few giveaways, a few competitions.
31:22 Who knows?
31:22 Yeah, we'll see.
31:23 We'll see.
31:23 Well, by the time you get there, a couple of them
31:25 might be in stretches, because Sean Strickland's opened up
31:28 his open workout to fans to potentially bring
31:30 some gloves in and out.
31:31 It might not happen, but--
31:33 I don't think-- they tried to do it last time,
31:35 but there was some insurance stuff.
31:36 Who tried to do it last time?
31:38 Jorge Masvidal, that's right.
31:40 And they were like, mm-mm, this is good.
31:42 We're going to get sued.
31:42 We're going to get sued bad.
31:44 But I mean, hey, that's his thing.
31:46 So if he wants to, go ahead.
31:49 Me, I'm just--
31:51 I've already worked out today.
31:52 If I do something, I do something.
31:53 If I don't, meh.
31:55 Israel, just over here, you've spoken in the past
31:57 about emulating that Sun Goku spirit.
32:00 At this point in your career with so many title defenses
32:03 and accolades, is your focus now on just fighting the best
32:06 and securing your legacy as a martial artist who
32:09 fought anyone and everyone?
32:11 Yes.
32:13 Yes, that's pretty much it.
32:15 Excellent.
32:15 And look, one last question for me.
32:17 As the business side of mixed martial arts grows,
32:20 do you think that the purity of the martial arts
32:22 is getting lost at all?
32:25 Not with guys like me, no.
32:27 Not with guys like Alex Volkanovski, no.
32:31 Yeah, this is a business, of course.
32:32 We want to make some money, better our lives
32:35 for our family and future families.
32:38 But some people go overboard, cross the lines,
32:42 and do all that kind of stuff.
32:44 But no, it just depends how you want to play the game.
32:53 I'm a guy who's a martial artist.
32:55 I show respect when I go to the gym.
32:58 Me and my coaches, I show them the highest respect
33:01 when I'm in there.
33:02 I still bow before I leave the gym.
33:03 When I enter the gym, I still bow.
33:07 I don't think it's lost with me.
33:09 And also, I'm a guy, you watch me fight.
33:11 It's fucking-- it's art.
33:12 It's beautiful.
33:13 If that's what you like.
33:15 If not, you can just say it's boring, it's dumb, it's stupid.
33:18 And you can watch whoever else you want to watch.
33:21 But for me, martial arts is what I'm here for.
33:24 And making money.
33:25 Lots and lots and lots of money.
33:28 Kioda, is he?
33:30 In previous fights-- over here, sorry.
33:33 In previous fights, you've noticed
33:34 you've had a bit of a mantra or a motto
33:36 leading in that seems to motivate you.
33:38 Like in the last fight, it was do less, say less, do more.
33:41 Did you have one for this fight that
33:43 helped you be that little flame that kept you going?
33:46 And to second that, if you don't,
33:54 does that mean you take the fight a little less seriously?
33:57 No, not at all.
33:58 Not at all.
33:59 I was going to write something in my mirror,
34:01 and I was just waiting for it to come to me.
34:03 But it never came, so I was like, it's OK.
34:05 But I just knew, I've said it, one plus one is two.
34:09 I'm going to knock out Sean Strickland.
34:12 So I know I'm going to finish him.
34:14 I really want to just--
34:16 I want to--
34:18 I don't want to knock him out, if that makes sense.
34:21 But it's just one plus one is two.
34:24 I'm going to knock him out.
34:27 I'd rather submit him, to be honest.
34:28 I want to submit him.
34:29 But what we've worked on, and what he does,
34:34 and his ego, and his brain, is just a peanut.
34:38 So one plus one is two.
34:41 Water is wet.
34:42 Sean Strickland is getting slept.
34:44 Speaking of submissions, you mentioned on Flagrant
34:47 that that's what you had planned for Rob, if you had a trilogy.
34:50 Is that something you're now more actively chasing
34:52 in the cage, to keep it fresh for you?
34:54 I try not to chase things.
34:56 With Rob, that was a stipulation with myself, to myself,
35:00 so I can get up for that fight.
35:03 Because to fight him a third time, I was like, ugh.
35:06 OK, well, he's going to shoot.
35:08 So I'm going to have to find a way to sprawl, take his back,
35:12 choke him out.
35:13 Yeah.
35:14 That was the plan.
35:15 Sorry, Rob.
35:16 He just gave it away.
35:17 God damn it.
35:18 Damn.
35:19 Is he over here to your left?
35:20 You, in this interview here, you've mentioned it.
35:26 And your teammate Shane Young in here mentioned it earlier.
35:30 Comparing this fight to the Polo Costa fight,
35:34 what is it about this fight that draws that comparison?
35:36 Is it the energy?
35:37 What is it?
35:38 The energy.
35:39 And it's just, like I said, deja vu.
35:42 I said that in one of my posts this week.
35:43 It just feels-- it's like, again,
35:46 I would make him cry like a baby.
35:50 It's a shameful champion.
35:52 It's a shameful champion.
35:55 I'm going to punch him really bad.
35:59 He speaks better English now.
36:00 But all that energy before the fight,
36:02 and then I saw him at the hotel.
36:04 And I checked him.
36:05 I tested him.
36:06 I was like, oh, you're solid.
36:07 And then all that energy was gone.
36:08 I was like, oh.
36:09 It's all for cameras and shows, because I was right there.
36:12 It's just your manager.
36:13 No security.
36:13 I didn't even have my guys with me back then.
36:15 It was me and my manager.
36:17 If he wanted to give that energy, he could
36:18 have done it right there.
36:20 So all these guys is fugazi.
36:21 There's certain people you don't fuck with,
36:23 because you know it's on site.
36:25 So it just feels familiar.
36:26 And before that, before that fight,
36:28 before my UFC debut, I felt this energy before,
36:30 where guys try and be boisterous and, hold me back, bro.
36:34 Hold me back, bro.
36:35 That kind of vibe.
36:36 So yeah, they don't really want to fight.
36:38 They just want to act like they want to fight.
36:40 And I know that energy.
36:42 So it's familiar to me.
36:43 And I love to fight.
36:45 And yeah, we're going to fight.
36:47 Last one.
36:48 This week, you've talked about you
36:50 wanted to get your nails done.
36:51 Do you know what you're going to do with your nails?
36:53 Yeah, drip tips.
36:54 That's my favorite.
36:55 Drip tips, because it'd be disrespectful to knock them
36:58 out with these ugly things.
37:00 So yeah, I'll do my toes as well,
37:01 in case I kick him in the face, which I will.
37:03 So I don't know if I'm going to paint them,
37:05 but I'm just going to get them pretty.
37:07 Because if they're not pretty, they're claws,
37:10 and they will cut his face.
37:11 So no, I'll make them pretty.
37:13 Maybe put some sparkles on them.
37:15 Yeah, put some sparkles on them.
37:17 And again, this is the last time I did my thing was on an interview.
37:22 And it's the same ones.
37:23 I've just kind of taken the gel off and stuff.
37:25 This is not defying me.
37:28 I do this like once, maybe twice a year.
37:31 But idiots want to like, that's him.
37:33 He's pushing the agenda.
37:35 He's this.
37:35 He's that.
37:36 But I'm like, you hone on one thing because you're an idiot.
37:39 You have no capacity to actually broaden your mind
37:42 and see things for what they are, because you're an idiot.
37:45 And that's why you're a fucking sheep.
37:47 And that's why you get told what to do,
37:48 and you listen to whatever the fuck they tell you,
37:50 because you're a fucking sheep.
37:51 That's why.
37:52 And yeah, I'm not the kind of person that you can put in a box.
37:57 People have tried.
37:58 But I live like there is no box.
38:00 And that's why you belong in a fucking box, you sheep.
38:03 Thank you very much.
38:04 Easy.
38:04 Any other questions?
38:06 Yeah, Benina.
38:09 Sorry, Vicky.
38:11 One more from Benina.
38:14 It's Tongan Language Week in New Zealand.
38:16 And I was wondering if any of the Tongan guys
38:20 that you train with or that you roll with
38:22 have taught you any words or phrases?
38:24 Way before that, I already knew all the bad Tongan words,
38:27 and I will not say them here.
38:28 But I'll just say, [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH] spread love.
38:34 That's what a real mob do.
38:36 [INAUDIBLE]
38:37 Thank you.
38:38 [INAUDIBLE]
38:39 Can we get some photos?
38:40 Oh, yeah.
38:41 [INAUDIBLE]
38:42 [INAUDIBLE]
38:48 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
38:53 [INAUDIBLE]
39:05 Did you know he wasn't a neo-Nazi?
39:07 I had no idea.
39:08 I really want to hold it on that,
39:10 but I'm kind of like, I don't like to create divide.
39:12 And I feel like he's probably learned from that.
39:15 But that's a rare [INAUDIBLE]
39:17 Then this guy wants to talk about me being Chinese
39:21 and all this shit.
39:22 Well, I can just say, you're a fucking [INAUDIBLE]
39:24 Well, hey, I'm not going to think that, though.
39:28 I'm going to talk in the limbo.
39:30 All right.
39:31 [INAUDIBLE]
39:33 [INAUDIBLE]
39:35 [INAUDIBLE]
39:37 [INAUDIBLE]
39:39 [INAUDIBLE]
39:41 [INAUDIBLE]
39:43 [INAUDIBLE]
39:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]
Recommended
2:21
2:33