Israel Adesanya: 15 Fights in 5 Years, 4 Months (Including 10 Title Fights)

[Deleted member 585708]

Has anyone ever had a more bad ass schedule than Israel Adesanya?

February 2018: Israel Adesanya debuted in the UFC beating Rob Wilkinson (2022 PFL Champion), wins POTN
March 2018: Beats Marvin Vettori
July 2018: Beats Brad Tavares, wins POTN
November 2018: Beats Derek Brunson, wins POTN
February 2019: Beats Anderson Silva, wins FOTN

(5 fights in 12 months, holy shit)

April 2019: Beats Kelvin Gastelum, wins Interim UFC Middleweight Championship, wins FOTYear
October 2019: Beats Robert Whittaker, unifies UFC Middleweight Championship, wins POTN

(this is where scheduling typically drops off)

March 2020: Beats Yoel Romero
September 2020: Beats Paulo Costa

March 2021: Loses to Jan Blachowicz @ 205
June 2021: Beats Marvin Vettori

February 2022: Beats Robert Whittaker
July 2022: Beats Jared Cannonier
November 2022 : Loses to Alex Pereira

April 2023: Beats Alex Pereira, wins POTN

---

Now the most obvious example of 'that schedule' is Cowboy Cerrone, who had precisely 19 fights in that same period - and that's rightly lauded, particularly with a 5-fight debut year in the UFC.

But Adesanya, fighting that often, almost always for the title, against superior opposition...

Let's put some HESPECT on this guy's name.

This might just be the GOAT schedule in UFC history considering the massive number of title fights, and I feel it doesn't get talked about enough. Is anyone even close to providing as much high level awesomeness?

 

[wildchild88]

We are blessed with Izzy.

At a time where many divisions have been lacking interest, he's brought some great fights, high level mma and plenty of drama.

 

[VinceArch]

 

[Guy LeDouche]

I’m about the furthest thing from an Izzy fan, but I majorly appreciate and will give him props for his activity. His schedule of opponents over the last few years is crazy.

 

[Deleted member 585708]

I'm interested in these 'someone else' votes.

Guys that feel like they fight all the time, like Figueiredo (12) or Strickland (10) are miles behind!

Who really has had the GOAT schedule?

 

[Hellowhosthat]

In the modern era definitely. It looked like Conor was going to be like that for a while but since the Mayweather fight he's been the complete opposite.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Hendo fought 47 times in just under 20 years. This was his line-up, starting from the beginning:

de Souza
Smith
Goes
Newton
Gogitidze
Kanehara
Yvel
Big Nog x2
Babalu x2
Wandy x2
Renzo
Shoji
Ninja
Arona
Oyama
Busta x2
Nakamura
Kondo
Lil Nog
Chonan
Gono
Misaki x2
Vitor x3
Rampage
Anderson
Palhares
Franklin
Bisping x2
Shields
Feijao
Fedor
Shogun x2
Lyoto
Rashad
DC
Moose
Boetsch
Lombard

There are five year stretches in there that are completely ridiculous.

 

[Deleted member 585708]

Starting from the turn of the century, Hendo fought 41 times in a little over 16.5 years. This was his line-up:

Yvel
Big Nog x2
Babalu x2
Wandy x2
Renzo
Shoji
Ninja
Arona
Oyama
Busta x2
Nakamura
Kondo
Lil Nog
Chonan
Gono
Misaki x2
Vitor x3
Rampage
Anderson
Palhares
Franklin
Bisping x2
Shields
Feijao
Fedor
Shogun x2
Lyoto
Rashad
DC
Moose
Boetsch
Lombard

There are five year stretches in there that are completely ridiculous.

In total, in just under 20 years, he fought 47 times against ridiculous competition.

That's a phenomenal schedule.

Did he ever fight 15 times within a 5 years, 4 month period (give or take)?

For sheer duration of elite schedule, Hendo is all-time, but I think Izzy might just have been even more active - including Hendo's multi-fight night Grand Prix events!

But I could be wrong.

 

[Davidjacksonjones]

Jon Jones fought and beat Ryan Bader, Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson and Loyoto Machida in the same year.

 

[Sweater of AV]

That's a phenomenal schedule.

Did he ever fight 15 times within a 5 years, 4 month period (give or take)?

For sheer duration of elite schedule, Hendo is all-time, but I think Izzy might just have been even more active - including Hendo's multi-fight night Grand Prix events!

But I could be wrong.

Indeed, he did and indeed, you're incorrect. There are actually a few of those periods in his career.

For instance, just picking one at random, Dec. 23, 2002 to March 1, 2008 (a little over 5 years and 2 months) he fought 15 times, starting with Big Nog and ending with Anderson.

 

[Substance Abuse]

Modern era? Yes. Even if you don't like him, you've got to respect how often he's active. All time? No.

 

[mister piscadinha]

he's a active champion, i like that

 

[Fact Checker]

Interesting stat: ZERO Division 1 wrestlers… how’s that even possible in a “premier” MMA org??


MW is in desperate need of a makeover.

 

[surgeyou1]

Especially as a champion. Makes it even more impressive to stay active and take on regular defenses, even against guys you already beat.

Fighters usually fight less when they have more to lose.

 

[Ayreon]

You can hate the guy but you have to admit he fights anyone, anytime.

He puts on shame guys like Chimaev or Costa (and maybe the other 95% of the entire UFC roster)

 

[oldschoolmmafan]

Modern era? Yes. Even if you don't like him, you've got to respect how often he's active. All time? No.

Was just about to say this. Definitely in the modern era but am curious as to who in any era of UFC was this active as champion...

 

[acannxr]

Is anyone even close to providing as much high level awesomeness?

In addition to Henderson as mentioned earlier in the thread, Gomi surpassed that feat.

12/16/01 to 4/16/07 (precisely 5 years and 4 months)

He went 18-3 (1), for a total of 22 fights.
He won against 8 top ten ranked opponents at Lightweight (which is the same number of top ten wins Adesanya has at Middleweight).
Gomi also had 12 finishes in that run (while Adesanya only has 5).

 

[rob mafia]

wanderlei had 15 fights in like 3 years 2000-2003. 22 fights in 5 years ending in 2005.

a lot of fighters seemed to generally fight more often back then, injuries aside. i'm sure saku had a lot around that time, too. and rampage...

 

[rob mafia]

shit, i think igor had like 15 fights in 2 years.

 

[Pierced7681]

Hendo fought 47 times in just under 20 years. This was his line-up, starting from the beginning:

de Souza
Smith
Goes
Newton
Gogitidze
Kanehara
Yvel
Big Nog x2
Babalu x2
Wandy x2
Renzo
Shoji
Ninja
Arona
Oyama
Busta x2
Nakamura
Kondo
Lil Nog
Chonan
Gono
Misaki x2
Vitor x3
Rampage
Anderson
Palhares
Franklin
Bisping x2
Shields
Feijao
Fedor
Shogun x2
Lyoto
Rashad
DC
Moose
Boetsch
Lombard

There are five year stretches in there that are completely ridiculous.

True Really True! I wonder how Hendo accomplished that