Undefeated UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is now a BJJ purple belt.
Adesanya ranked up last night, being promoted by his jiu-jitsu coach Andre Galvao. Galvao also promoted Adesanya to blue belt back in 2017.
In a heartfelt post sharing the good news, Adesanya called the experience the “highlight of his trip so far” in California — high praise indeed, given that Adesanya also included smoking with Snoop Dog and surfing with Kelly Slater on his list of top moments.
“I smoked with Snoop Dogg 
I surfed with Kelly Slater 
I rolled with Andre Galvao 
This has been the highlight of my trip so far, being surprised with a purple belt by @galvaobjj.
Although initially I didn’t feel like I deserve this. I trust his judgement and feel I have earned this. In my short time here I’ve felt my jiu jitsu level up. I love knocking people out, but it’s time to start tapping them out!“
Adesanya first came to visit California and Atos HQ about a month ago, and since then, he’s gotten to roll with some of the greats of jiu-jitsu, including Josh Hinger and Lucas Barbosa. Of course, they seemed equally excited to train with the “Stylebender,” even though he was “just” a blue belt at the time.
Adesanya’s jiu-jitsu rank was the topic of mockery in the lead-up to his last fight against Paulo Costa, who threw a white belt at him during weigh-ins. Though Adesanya didn’t take home his first submission win in his 20-0 professional MMA career, he did finish Costa with a TKO in the second round.
The post Israel Adesanya Promoted To Purple Belt By Andre Galvao appeared first on Jiu-Jitsu Times.