Israel Adesanya left Nigeria as a boy, but this past week returned as a UFC champion to a hero’s welcome.

One month after besting Kelvin Gastelum to win the UFC interim middleweight title, Adesanya was back in his native country for a victory lap, and you know “The Last Stylebender” did it in style.

Taste of home

Before anything, you’ve got to go back to all your favorite food spots. It didn’t take long for Adesanya to find his.

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First ting I did once we done land…#suya : @jeffsainlar

A post shared by Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) on May 15, 2019 at 7:12am PDT

(Side note: Never had Suya? Check out this recipe if you can’t afford the flight to Nigeria. Delish.)

Back to school

There’s always that one big kid in class. Here’s Adesanya at Crisland School, his primary academy.

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My heart today was like …so much emotion as I returned back to my old primary school. Everything felt so small to me as I strolled my former stomping grounds cuz I’m a big boy now, but I was filled with a different sence of wonder, pride and joy. I saw myself as each of those kids and I couldn’t help but return to my child mind (not hard for me to do) and remember how I looked at the world at their ages. So many memories that I hadn’t even thought of in over 20 years came flooding back like flashbacks. It was a surreal, crazy and wonderful experience. I’ll remember this feeling forever Shoutout to all the kids at #chrislandschool : @jeffsainlar aka Oluwajeff

A post shared by Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) on May 17, 2019 at 9:35am PDT

My heart today was like
…so much emotion as I returned back to my old primary school. Everything felt so small to me as I strolled my former stomping grounds cuz I’m a big boy now, but I was filled with a different sence of wonder, pride and joy. I saw myself as each of those kids and I couldn’t help but return to my child mind (not hard for me to do) and remember how I looked at the world at their ages. So many memories that I hadn’t even thought of in over 20 years came flooding back like flashbacks.
It was a surreal, crazy and wonderful experience. I’ll remember this feeling forever
Shoutout to all the kids at #chrislandschool
: @jeffsainlar aka Oluwajeff

Putting in work

Of course, you can’t neglect your cardio when you’re out of town. Here’s Adesanya at the abandoned 45,000-seat Lagos National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos State.

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#SalifKeita – Tomorrow Early morning Nigerian Boxing : Oluwajeff aka @jeffsainlar

A post shared by Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) on May 19, 2019 at 4:00am PDT

Youth of tomorrow

Here’s Adesanya giving a young Nigerian upstart a free kickboxing lesson.

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No PR team needed. I don’t do it for the likes…I do it for the love

A post shared by Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) on May 19, 2019 at 4:32am PDT

No PR team needed.
I don’t do it for the likes…I do it for the love

So you think you can dance

All we can say is … damn. Kid’s got moves.

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#freestyle #allstyles When in Africa do as Africans do…we #dance #Krump #afrobeat #yougotserved2 ● Event: @FreestylefridaywithNM #freestylefridaywithnasmagnificent #ffwnm Location: @hitboxgames

A post shared by Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) on May 21, 2019 at 3:02am PDT

Now, onward to unify the title against champ Robert Whittaker.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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