From: officialflagrant
Israel Adesanya, a prominent figure in the UFC, frequently discusses the critical role of mentality and unique visualization techniques in his career, both in victory and defeat.
The Power of Visualization
Adesanya emphasizes that visualization is a core component of his preparation, often occurring in unexpected moments, such as in the shower, which he considers “the most honest place in the world” [00:00:53]. He visualizes every aspect of a fight, from the win and knockout to post-fight press conferences and fight week activities [00:01:09]. This process is automatic, almost like “Tourette’s,” and serves as his method of manifestation [00:01:17].
During these visualizations, he experiences intense happiness, desiring for everyone to feel that same joy [00:01:27]. This feeling, sometimes enhanced by substances like mushrooms, allows him to enter a “flow state” where words and actions effortlessly come to him [00:01:41].
A potent example of his visualization at work was after his knockout victory over Pereira. He recalled the moment of extending his hand towards Pereira’s son as “payback,” a moment he had visualized many times [00:12:26]. He was hyper-aware in the cage, knowing where everyone, including Pereira’s family, was located [00:12:47]. This act was a response, not a reaction, stemming from taking the son’s prior in-ring taunt “personally” [00:13:30].
Six weeks prior to that fight, he explicitly wrote on his mirror: “April 8th Miami 2023, the greatest comeback in sporting history. It was written by me” [02:00:24]. This served as a constant affirmation, which he would also recite randomly [02:00:44].
Mental Fortitude and Emotional Control
Adesanya’s mindset is defined by several principles:
- Response over Reaction: He states, “I don’t react, I respond. I take my time when I respond” [00:13:35].
- Internal Validation: He believes that “you’re never as good as they say you are, you’re never as bad as they say you are. All that matters is how you see yourself” [02:22:41]. He appreciates both love and hate, using them as fuel, but “never holds on to it,” letting it pass through him [02:22:50].
- Protecting Energy: During fight camp, he isolates himself and cuts out anything or anyone not in line with his fight preparation [02:23:19]. He has learned to say “no” and not explain himself to protect his energy [02:26:43]. He likens public interaction to feeding a seagull – once you do, everyone wants a piece [02:26:55].
- Embracing Adversity: In a tough fight, he recalled his coach’s words: “Embrace the darkness, go numb” [02:52:27]. This allowed him to reach a state of readiness to both “die” and “kill” [02:52:50]. He is grateful for opponents who push him past his limits, as it makes him a better fighter and athlete [02:55:53].
“If I die here, I die here. But if I’m ready to die, I’m ready to kill.” [02:52:40]
Self-Awareness and Personal Growth
His personal journey, highlighted in his documentary, reveals his past as a “people pleaser” [02:43:44], a coping mechanism developed after moving to New Zealand to be accepted [02:44:07]. Recognizing this trait allows him to pull back and protect his energy [02:54:55].
Adesanya believes in being his authentic self. His advice to others struggling to do so is simple: “Do it” [03:38:40]. He uses his social media to “weed out” those who don’t truly understand or support him, stating there are “no rules to this internet shit” [03:53:53]. This openness, even about losses, helps others embrace their own humanity [03:30:28]. He notes that seeing someone else (like Kai) handle a loss well makes him “okay” too [03:37:09].
Spirituality and Performance
Adesanya acknowledges that his use of mushrooms, specifically microdosing, helps him “tap into” his primal self, or “the dog in me” [02:24:27]. He believes the flow state, where various brain chemicals are released, is akin to spirituality or “magic we don’t understand yet” [03:12:32]. He finds inspiration in the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once, viewing its message of kindness in a harsh world as a “martial art” [03:18:09].
He attributes his ability to ride the wave of crowd energy during a fight to his background in dancing and freestyling, allowing his body to instinctively link movements to the music [03:13:51].
Before his fight with Costa, he recounts having a nap before getting his hands wrapped, during which he felt like a “sleeper agent” who “tapped into something else,” waking up in a different zone [03:20:47]. He also deliberately tapped into his Nigerian heritage and “royal family” roots, using a chief staff (UKa) at weigh-ins to connect with his culture, inspired by Pereira’s connection to his own [03:09:00]. This spiritual grounding is a practice he intends to continue [03:11:54].
Adesanya is continually learning and evolving, seeing his career as a story he is still writing, both inside and outside the octagon [03:11:24].