MMA has grown over the years, and the world’s biggest MMA promotion, UFC, deserves a lot of credit for it. UFC, led by renowned promoter Dana White, has been holding events for fans outside of the United States. Following the success of UFC 294 on pay-per-view in the United Arab Emirates, now the promotion has announced an event in Shanghai, China.
China, we're officially on the way! 🇨🇳
See you at #UFCShanghai on December 9th! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/8iHufsrtEi
— UFC (@ufc) November 1, 2023
UFC announced the news on its official social media pages. The event will take place on December 9th at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium. It is also important to note that this will be the first UFC event in China in four years, as severe COVID-19 regulations have been in place since 2019.
While this is a delightful announcement for Asian fans, many did not hesitate to poke fun at former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
Fans project the return of Israel Adesanya as UFC announces event in China
Although the UFC has announced Fight Night in China, they didn’t reveal the fighters who will compete on the card. Israel Adesanya is surely not one of them. However, fans have already projected his return. Check out some fan reactions below.
Adesanya's back let's gooooooo 🇨🇳 pic.twitter.com/NFMk5OR8wF
— UFCStats💭 (@TheUFCStats) November 1, 2023
Izzy is back already?
— Wayne (@WayneAlt1) November 1, 2023
The return… pic.twitter.com/myRf2qqKm9
— Johnathan (@theprism89) November 1, 2023
The chinese champion has a name and his name is Israel adesanya.
— Sandwich (@SandwichBurger1) November 1, 2023
Oh no don't tell Izzy Adesanya
— strataG 𒉭 (@GStrata) November 1, 2023
While the comments are hilarious, it is also vital to understand why fans are mocking the former UFC champion. Is it due to Adesanya’s Chinese heritage? No! He is not. The 34-year-old does, however, have a brief history with the country.
‘The Last Stylebender’ was born in Nigeria, but his family relocated to New Zealand when he was very young in search of a better life. Adesanya began his martial arts career in New Zealand.
He then moved to China to pursue a kickboxing career. Adesanya was a well-known face in the Chinese combat sports world, earning him the moniker ‘Black Dragon’ due to his excellent personality.
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During his walkouts, Adesanya even carried the Chinese flag many times. As a result, many people still link him with China. Even the MMA star is proud that his career received a boost in China. Considering all these reasons, many fans continue to believe he was born and raised in China.
Thus, clearing the doubts, Adesanya fights out of New Zealand in the UFC and is one of the biggest stars of the promotion. Izzy is currently prepping for a rematch after losing his UFC middleweight belt to Sean Strickland. However, the middleweight champion has not provided a timeline for his return.
Andrew Johnson is a seasoned UFC content writer with over three years of experience. Passionate about both the artistry of mixed martial arts and the storytelling of cinema, Andrew brings a unique perspective to his writing. Inspired by the legendary Muhammad Ali, he infuses his work with a deep respect for the sport and its iconic figures. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to capturing electrifying moments, Andrew Johnson delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for UFC enthusiasts
