Nigerian mixed martial arts star Israel Adesanya has officially been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, honouring his exceptional achievements and impact on the sport.
According to Naija News, the former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion was inducted into the Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing on Thursday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, in recognition of his epic 2019 showdown with Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236.
In that unforgettable bout, Adesanya delivered four knockdowns and earned a unanimous decision victory to claim the Interim UFC Middleweight title — a defining moment in his storied career.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
Other legendary bouts being inducted into the 2025 class include Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar, Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg II, and Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen.
Reacting to the honour, Adesanya said:
“I was surprised… I was like, Hall of Fame? I’m too young. But I wouldn’t fight it — I’ll accept it. If they want to honour me like that, I’ll take it. I’m very grateful.”
Favour Ofili Still Committed to Nigeria – NSC
Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has refuted rumours that Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili is switching allegiance to Turkey.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja ahead of the Confederation of African Athletics U-18 and U-20 Championships, Olopade clarified that Ofili remains a committed Nigerian athlete.
“Favour Ofili is still representing Nigeria. She wrote to the NSC two months ago, reaffirming her commitment to compete for Nigeria,” he said.
Olopade revealed that Ofili personally confirmed her allegiance to him and is one of 69 athletes who received NSC financial grants in April 2025 as part of national development efforts.
“There has been no official communication from any international federation or national body indicating a switch in allegiance. As far as the NSC is concerned, she remains a Nigerian athlete,” he added.
The statement comes amid widespread speculation and media reports suggesting Ofili — a national record holder and key Olympic medal hopeful — was considering a nationality switch, sparking concern within the athletics community.
