Even the most powerful individuals in combat sports have moments when they falter. It was a similar story for Israel Adesanya, but in his case, it started long before his ascent to stardom.

In recent days, he has been spending time in Thailand, perfecting his art. Whilst at it, he was interviewed at the Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA Gym and shared some of his wisdom with his fans.

“Nothing lasts forever,” the former UFC middleweight champion explained when asked about how he deals with tough days. “The sun will shine again. If it’s raining, the sun will shine again. And when it rains, enjoy it. It’s raining. You’re alive. You’re above ground. So, no matter what happens, nothing lasts forever.”

‘Izzy’ admitted that 2013 pushed him to a dangerous mental edge. “That was my worst one,” he revealed. “I was like, man, is this how people feel before they k–l themselves?”

The upset him because he immediately realized how quietly individuals may slip into depression.

What stopped him, he says, was self-awareness and support. “I can never do that, because my spirit is strong. And I have a good support system around me, and also I know myself, so nothing lasts forever. The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful. Enjoy it all.”

Today, he sounds grounded. At 36, with losses behind him and no need to chase accolades, Israel Adesanya seems to be following a simpler mindset. But he has gained that wisdom over the years. In fact, up until a few years ago, the fighter was still combating depression.

The highs and lows of MMA mentally affected Israel Adesanya

From 2019 to 2022, the fighter was at his absolute best. He defeated names like Paulo Costa and Robert Whittaker, and had an intriguing storyline with his nemesis, Alex Pereira, as well as a couple of fight losses. Adesanya was a star but would often catch himself spiralling, especially after a win.

In 2022, he compared winning to having coffee. “It’s kind of like drinking coffee, it’s a stimulant, and then you have a crash.”

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And he was surrounded by a lot of stimulation. As per his own admission, it once became so overbearing that he went home and had bouts of crying. He was by himself for about two weeks. He knew he was depressed but wasn’t sure what led to it. It took the fighter some time to identify that negative feelings and self-talk pushed him over the edge.

Additionally, Adesanya had watched the pitfalls of a lot of famous athletes and actors. He witnessed how they dealt with it and knew what he needed to avoid to not become another of those tabloid stories.

‘Izzy’ took therapy and made sure he had the right people around him. But as much as wins affected his mental health, so did the losses.

Adesanya reveals the one loss that still hurts him

That calm outlook doesn’t mean every chapter is closed. Some moments still stick with ‘The Last Stylebender,’ particularly those in which he thinks control was taken from him. In his interview at the Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA Gym, he also revealed how that one loss still hurts him: the night he believes a world title slipped away before his UFC career ever began.

Looking back on his kickboxing career, Israel Adesanya cites his Glory middleweight title fight as a turning moment. “With Glory, though, I just felt they screwed me out of a world title because they wanted the Dutch guy (Jason Wilnis) to win,” he said, claiming that it wasn’t just about losing a belt. It was about trust. He didn’t pretend that the decision hadn’t left him frustrated. “I’m a petty guy, so I hold grudges,” he added.

However, the bitterness is not absolute.

Adesanya promptly countered his own critique by mentioning what Glory did for him early on. ‘Izzy’ confessed that the promotion helped him grow his reputation and provided opportunities for aspiring kickboxers, including himself. He made peace with these facts, despite having good reason for resentment, which shows how Adesanya has grown as an individual inside and outside the cage.