“I Took It With a Grain of Salt..”: Emotional Israel Adesanya Tried to Shrug Off Kobe Bryant Comparisons in 2020

Recently, the middleweight division of the UFC was in shatters as the champion, Israel Adesanya lost. The ‘Last Stylebender’ is arguably one of the most dominant fighters in the history of the division. His journey began as a master kickboxer with an astonishing 75-5 record. He soon transitioned into the world of mixed martial arts. And he took over almost instantly. With just two losses under his belt, Adesanya is a true killer in the octagon. And in 2020, he was compared to one of the coldest NBA greats, Kobe Bryant.

The ‘Black Mamba’ is known for his insane work ethic and hunger. The Los Angeles Lakers icon goes down as one of the best players of all time. Apart from his mastery of the game, what separated Bryant from the pack was arguably the killer instinct that consumed him on the court. Whenever the five-time champion stepped on the court, he wanted to destroy his opposition. His resilient focus and determination proved crucial in a Hall of Fame career.

Adesanya is similar to the Mamba in several aspects. And in 2020 when Kobe Bryant tragically passed away, the former Middleweight champion spoke out about the comparisons he received with the all-time great.

Israel Adesanya didn’t take the Kobe Bryant comparison seriously

Adesanya was training for his first title defense as the champion. However, in the midst of training, the UFC middleweight kingpin received the unfortunate news of Bryant’s passing. Interestingly, Adesanya didn’t follow or watch basketball. But despite not following the sport, he knew all about the legend of Kobe Bryant. In addition, when his team compared him to Kobe, the 33-year-old admitted to not taking it seriously.

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Adesanya felt a sense of honor when one of the members of his team said he is very similar to the five-time champion. Adesanya said: “She said that you and Kobe are so similar and get along. I took it with a grain of salt but I felt cool that she would even put me in that bracket because she’s worked closely with him. I don’t follow basketball, I just follow greatness and I’m following suit”. 

There is something about the former Middleweight crown holder in the Octagon which shows his killer mentality. He has never been afraid of taking on challenges. From shifting weight classes to fighting the best of the best, Adesanya has never shied away. Notably, his recent loss came to Alex Pereira, an opponent who had gotten the better of him twice before. Now, Israel Adesanya is hungry to get back in the ring with him once again. The vengeance he carries and the aura he brings to the table are what make Israel Adesanya a carrier of the ‘Mamba Mentality’.

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One thing is for sure, the ‘Last Stylebender’ is far from over. This isn’t the first time he has faced a loss. However, just like Kobe Bryant, the 33-year-old knows how to bounce back by honing his skills.

Do you think he will exact revenge against Pereira when they fight again? Let us know your views in the comments below.