Known as “The Last Stylebender,” Adesanya took to martial arts at a young age and is no stranger to dealing with power on the big stage. A cunning martial artist, Adesanya earned his moniker with a creative striking flow that helped him accrue titles in both the boxing and kickboxing arenas.

In April 2015, Adesanya entered the ‘Cruiserweights II’ tournament at King in the Ring 86, where he looked to add three more names to his then-22-2 kickboxing resume. At the time, Adesanya’s two defeats were at the hands of Filip Verlinden and Simon Marcus, who were highly accomplished fighters.