While Israel Adesanya mastered the fight inside the octagon, he sought methods to manage the daily challenges of life outside of it.
As he climbed the UFC ranks, ultimately securing two middleweight titles, Adesanya ensured he was prepared for the intense pressure and the aftermath of competing at the elite level of MMA. Speaking recently on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Adesanya identified psychedelics and therapy as crucial aids for his mental well-being.
Recounting his experience before the Alex Pereira fight in Miami, Adesanya shared:
I did three macro `shroom trips in the shower where I was able to just… hone in. It’s different. I don’t go too deep, it’s more I can feel myself. I can feel myself deeper. I don’t know if it’s your ancestors or whatever, but I could feel myself on a level I’ve never felt before and I wrote this thing on my mirror… ‘The greatest comeback in UFC history and it’s done by me’ some shit like that.
Adesanya acknowledged using psychedelics, stating he likes to “alter the state of my being once in a while” to gain new perspectives and remove “blinders.” He added that even substances like edibles, combined with meditation, can facilitate deep introspection, allowing individuals to confront accumulated issues within themselves.
While Adesanya didn`t specify the exact timing of his mushroom use during the UFC 287 fight week, where he aimed to reclaim the middleweight belt lost to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, the context was a crucial rematch. This was their fourth encounter across kickboxing and MMA, with Pereira holding the previous wins. Adesanya ultimately achieved a significant second-round knockout victory over his enduring adversary.
Well before that pivotal fight, Adesanya had already turned to therapy as a guide throughout his UFC career. Following a successful promotional debut in February 2018, where he secured a second-round knockout against Rob Wilkinson, he found that despite the victory and its rewards, something felt incomplete, prompting him to seek professional help.
Describing the period after his debut, Adesanya stated:
I went back home and… my UFC debut I didn’t make 10 and 10 like everyone else [entry-level pay]. I made six figures and then I made a $50K bonus on top of that… I felt like I stole the show, people were talking about me and I was… on top of the world. And then… I’d go home and I would just… crash. I didn’t understand.
He explained this experience led him to therapy, realizing, “I don’t want to say this is bad, but it was bad.” He felt guilt about his sadness, questioning, “Why am I depressed? After the win, after my UFC debut.” He concluded that it was related to the sudden lack of “stimulus.” The intense energy of being “the man,” surrounded by cameras, lights, and attention, was followed by a return home to quiet darkness, creating a spiritual “crash,” similar to the comedown after a caffeine high.
Adesanya began his UFC tenure with five consecutive victories, notably a decision win against the legendary Anderson Silva. He then won an acclaimed interim middleweight title fight against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 (an event soon to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame). He unified the belts by knocking out champion Robert Whittaker and subsequently defended his title five times successfully.
Throughout his career peak, Adesanya credits therapy with providing grounding, helping him avoid extreme emotional swings after competition.
Adesanya stated that the techniques learned from his therapist were invaluable for navigating the aftermath of fights, helping him:
navigate when I come back what to do, how to ground myself, how to make sure I get back into my routine and not just stay at home and just wallow in despair for no reason.
He emphasized the importance of recognizing that “There’s more to life than fighting,” a perspective he consciously maintains to avoid becoming someone who, past their prime, struggles to retire, constantly seeking “one more” moment in the spotlight due to addiction to its “shine.”
