UFC CEO Dana White has always been known for spotting raw talent and never hesitating to give hungry newcomers a shot at glory. Just look at the case of Dorobshokh Nabotov from Tajikistan. At the UFC 308 press conference, the young fighter boldly rushed the stage and asked White directly for an opportunity to fight in the promotion. The head honcho didn’t flinch—he welcomed Nabotov on stage, promised to “figure it out,” and handed him a shot to prove himself. Although Nabotov didn’t pass the test, the moment further cemented the Bossman’s image as someone who champions rising prospects.

But here’s something most fans might not know: years ago, White once overlooked a DM from a fighter who would eventually become one of the biggest superstars in UFC history. That fighter? Israel Adesanya. Let’s go back to November 2018—Adesanya had just dismantled Derek Brunson in the first round at UFC 230, a performance that made White sit up and take notice. Impressed, White called him “the whole package” and hailed him as “the future.” And as we now know, he wasn’t wrong. However, the road to that moment wasn’t so smooth.

Back in 2015, during Adesanya’s struggling kickboxing days, he was fighting in China and burning through his savings. Desperate for an opportunity, he messaged the head honcho, and it turns out that he never saw the DM. Now, years later, with the Nigerian export firmly established as a UFC superstar and one of White’s favorites, the story resurfaced in a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast.

Sitting down with fellow former UFC champions Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman, Adesanya opened up about those early struggles, especially how he managed to support his “big-a– team” for nearly a year while competing on the Chinese MMA circuit. The Kiwi-Nigerian recalled, “Yeah, China was good for us—for the XP. Then I moved back to New Zealand and did my thing. It got to the point where I was like, ‘Look, I need these fights, cause I was running out of money. So I just took a shot at the UFC. I was like, “Yo, I already hit up Dana in 2015—I hit him up in the DMs. He didn’t see it.’ But then, yeah, eventually, they saw me. And now we’re here, yeah.”

Thankfully, the UFC brass didn’t miss him the second time around. In February 2018, Izzy made an emphatic debut as he knocked out Rob Wilkinson at UFC 221 to announce himself to the MMA world. And once Adesanya got his foot in the door, he kicked it wide open. In 2018 alone—his rookie year in the UFC—Izzy achieved four straight wins. This extended his pro MMA record to 15-0 and undeniably proved his readiness for the big stage. But it wasn’t just the wins. Adesanya brought something different to the Octagon! A rare blend of elite striking, unshakable confidence, and superstar charisma.

From breakdancing his way to walkouts to delivering quotable post-fight interviews, he made every appearance feel like an event. After 80-plus kickboxing bouts and nearly a year grinding on the Chinese MMA circuit with his “big-a– team,” Izzy had finally found his spotlight. Seven years later, he’s a two-time middleweight champion, with a run from 2019 to 2023 where every single one of his 12 fights was for UFC gold.

That streak puts him second in middleweight title fight history, trailing only the great Anderson Silva. Even his fiercest rivals, like Dricus Du Plessis, have come around, calling him someone with “Anderson Silva status.” And while he may be riding a three-fight skid now, Adesanya’s name still rings out loud across the MMA world. Dana White, for one, hasn’t stopped showing him love—even in defeat. Let’s hear what the UFC boss had to say.

Dana White shared his candid view on Israel Adesanya’s performance at UFC Saudi Arabia

“One of the things I love about this kid is he’s a real fighter,” Dana White said back in 2023 about Israel Adesanya. That mindset is exactly why Adesanya’s image often mirrors his favorite anime hero, Naruto. Resilient through the lows and relentless in pursuit of greatness, Izzy has always found a way to rise, no matter the odds. At his peak, the Nigerian-Kiwi wasn’t just a champion—he was a superstar. He headlined nearly every major UFC pay-per-view, brought style, and became the only man to knock out Alex Pereira.

But today, the surrounding aura has dimmed. Whether it’s age, mental burnout, or the weight of having already conquered the mountain, Izzy hasn’t looked like himself lately. He’s 1-4 in his last five outings. With the latest setback coming at UFC Saudi Arabia this February, where he was dropped and finished by Nassourdine Imavov in the second round. Adesanya walked into that fight, hoping to bounce back, but instead, he got caught. The moment sparked conversations among fans and media alike: Is this the beginning of the end?

Still, Dana White wasn’t buying into the downfall narrative. Speaking at the UFC Saudi Arabia post-fight press conference, the UFC CEO stood firm in his support for Adesanya: “I thought Izzy looked incredible up until he got caught,” White said. “He looked good. He was picking him apart, staying on the outside. His takedown defense was incredible, chopping that calf kick the whole first round. He couldn’t have had a better first round – and then he got caught. … Listen, getting caught is getting caught. He’s 35. Imavov is 28. He’s in his prime. … He looked incredible. You couldn’t have fought a better first round than he did.”

What do you think lies ahead for Israel Adesanya? Can he make a strong comeback after his recent setbacks and find his way back to the win column, much like Alexander Volkanovski did this month? Share your thoughts below.