Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion, Israel ‘The Style Bender’ Adesanya is making the best of his first visit to Nigeria since leaving the country of his birth 16 years ago, as he has gained a deal with Peak Milk.
Adesanya, who arrived in Lagos on Tuesday, and is set to visit his father’s ancestral home at Odogbolu, Ogun State, then meet with the governor, Ibikunle Amosun, disclosed his delight with the Peak Milk endorsement.
The UFC interim middleweight champion trained in taekwondo briefly during his primary school days at Opebi area of Lagos before he moved with his parents to New Zealand at the age of 13.
Adesanya, who defeated America’s Kelvin Gastelum during a UFC 236 fight in Atlanta, USA a few weeks ago, caused a major stir on arrival at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, as immigration officers and other security personnel at the airport scrambled to shake his hand.
His victory at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, USA earned him the interim middleweight UFC belt in one of the best title fights ever in the history of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
Before that, Adesanya had defeated Brazil’s Anderson Silva in February at UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia, but his battle against Gastelum, a highly-rated Mexican fighter confirmed his immense potentials.
His father, Femi Adesanya told The Guardian ‘The Last Stylebender’ is in Nigeria to feel the environment, which he left when he was just a kid.
“Israel came home just to feel the environment, eat the local food and meet with the people. The visit is just like a holiday for him,” Adesanya Snr revealed from New Zealand.
On his part, Adesanya is relishing his endorsement deal in Lagos, and wrote via his verified Twitter handle @stylebender: “More. I haven’t even reached my “Peak”#freeplug #idashyouthisoneadvert.”