Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya has cemented his legacy as one of the most dominant and charismatic middleweight champions in UFC history. His flair, technical striking, and theatrical persona translate perfectly to the global stage of mixed martial arts. However, before the bright lights of the Octagon, Adesanya navigated the demanding, and sometimes convoluted, world of professional kickboxing in the Glory organization. It is in this former domain that a simmering seven-year-old grievance still dictates his perspective—a grudge concerning a world title he firmly believes was taken from him through biased adjudication.
Adesanya, known for his relentless pursuit of precision and payback—a trait famously demonstrated in his rivalry with Alex Pereira—recently reflected on a pivotal moment that occurred just before his seismic shift to MMA. This moment, far from being a simple defeat, remains etched in his memory as a bureaucratic betrayal.
The Night in Los Angeles: The `Crooked` Decision Against Jason Wilnis
The year was 2017. Adesanya, then an exciting middleweight contender in Glory, challenged the defending middleweight champion, Jason Wilnis, at Glory 37 in Los Angeles. The stakes were high: the coveted Glory middleweight championship belt. The fight went the full distance, resulting in a unanimous decision victory for Wilnis. Adesanya, however, views that loss not as a simple failing but as a miscarriage of sporting justice.
Speaking candidly during a recent Q&A session in Thailand, Adesanya did not mince words, labeling the outcome “crooked.” His accusation cuts to the heart of promotional bias, suggesting the outcome was predetermined to favor the reigning champion.
“With Glory though, I just felt they screwed me out of a world title because they wanted the Dutch guy to win,” Adesanya stated.
This accusation of administrative maneuvering—a promotion favoring its entrenched champion (Wilnis is Dutch, and Glory has deep roots in Dutch kickboxing culture)—sparked a profound disillusionment in the rising star. Adesanya acknowledged that his relationship with Glory soured significantly after this fight, though he managed to temper his criticism slightly by later expressing gratitude for the platform Glory provided.
Yet, the sting remains. Adesanya openly admitted to holding grudges, albeit with a dash of self-aware irony: “You know me, I’m a petty guy, so I hold grudges.”
The Unintended Consequence: A Launchpad to MMA Immortality
It’s fascinating to consider the profound butterfly effect of this controversial loss. Had Adesanya received the decision and captured the Glory middleweight title, his career trajectory might have been drastically different. He might have been tied to the kickboxing world for longer, potentially delaying or entirely foregoing his move to the UFC.
The bitter taste of perceived unfairness likely served as a powerful catalyst. Less than a year later, Adesanya debuted in the UFC, bringing his elite striking skills into a division starved for fresh talent. He ascended rapidly, achieving levels of global stardom and financial success that the kickboxing world rarely offers. In a paradoxical twist, being “screwed” out of a kickboxing title may have been the best thing that ever happened to Israel Adesanya`s career.
Echoes of Glory: The Crossover Trend Continues
Adesanya and his fierce rival, Alex Pereira, represent the most high-profile and successful crossovers from elite kickboxing to MMA. Their history, defined by knockouts and title exchanges across two different sports, highlights the volatile but rewarding path of transitioning specialists.
Now, another kickboxing titan may be following suit: Glory Heavyweight Champion Rico Verhoeven. Verhoeven has recently vacated his Glory title, fueling intense speculation about a potential move to the UFC heavyweight division.
Adesanya, having trained briefly with Verhoeven years ago, provided an insider`s assessment of the Dutch giant’s potential in the Octagon.
Sparring with the King of Kickboxing
Adesanya recalled sparring Verhoeven when he was brought in to help Anthony “Rumble” Johnson prepare for his fight against Jon Jones. The size difference was significant, and Adesanya’s memory of the session is equal parts humorous and insightful.
“He might not remember. He was a heavyweight, I was a middleweight. I could touch him but it wasn’t really doing anything, he was just moving me around,” Adesanya recounted.
Despite the humorous scale imbalance, Adesanya holds a high technical opinion of Verhoeven`s readiness for MMA. He believes Verhoeven is not simply a one-dimensional striker but has been systematically developing his ground game for years, preparing for exactly this kind of pivot.
“Just because some people kickbox and specialize in kickboxing doesn’t mean they’re not doing other disciplines as well. I think he’s been very well-versed in mixed martial arts so we’ll find out,” Adesanya concluded.
If Verhoeven does enter the UFC, his success will undoubtedly be measured against the benchmarks set by Adesanya and Pereira—a pair whose entire MMA narrative remains inextricably linked to their turbulent history in Glory Kickboxing. Adesanya’s path proves that sometimes, the greatest motivation isn`t the trophy you win, but the title you feel was unjustly denied.
Marcus Bellamy