Adesanya's parents were against his fighting career

Israel Adesanya, a former UFC middleweight champion, said his parents were against him becoming a fighter.

“My parents believed that the life of a fighter was beneath me. They wanted me to devote my life to more prestigious professions, to be an accountant, lawyer or doctor. My grades in school weren't that bad, but I wasn't cut out for it. My brain is wired differently. I developed dyslexia (a specific learning disability). When I read a book, I don’t always understand the meaning of what I read; I have to constantly go back. That’s why I love audiobooks and podcasts: I can listen and do other things,” Adesanya said on Theo Von’s podcast.