Israel Adesanya shares video of therapy session from 'STYLEBENDER' with powerful message on mental health, fans react: "That’s the toughest thing"
Israel Adesanya recently shared a clip from his therapy session featured in his documentary 'STYLEBENDER'. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in June 2023.
The documentary delves into the life of 'The Last Stylebender', charting his journey from childhood to his rise as a professional fighter. It also offers a poignant exploration of the former UFC middleweight champion's mental health struggles, highlighting his efforts to work with professional psychologists to overcome these challenges.
Adesanya has previously stressed that 'STYLEBENDER', which was released on Amazon Prime earlier this month, is a must-watch, particularly for men struggling with psychological issues. The 35-year-old Nigerian-born Kiwi recently shared a scene from the film where he is seen consulting a therapist inside a recreational vehicle parked in a field.
"If you don’t look after your physical health, you’re gonna get sick. The same thing goes for your mental health; you gotta protect your energy because 'Health is wealth.'"
Check out Israel Adesanya's post below:
Fans reacted to Adesanya's post with a range of responses, with many expressing admiration for the UFC star's triumph over his mental challenges.
One fan wrote:
"Izzy did the work on himself mentally, fortified his mind. That’s the toughest thing to do in this world."
Another wrote:
"You’re the definition of a warrior Izzy."
Check out some more reactions below:
Adesanya is currently going through one of the most challenging phases of his career, having come up short in his bid to reclaim the 185-pound title against reigning champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 last month. His recent run in the octagon stands at 1-3 in his last four appearances.
When Max Holloway admitted Israel Adesanya's documentary pushed him to be more mindful about mental health
During his appearance on The MMA Hour in June 2023, Max Holloway revealed that after watching Israel Adesanya's documentary 'STYLEBENDER', he felt deeply inspired to place greater focus on his mental well-being.
'Blessed' shared that he resonated deeply with the film’s message on a personal level, which even led him to consider pursuing therapy:
"Even today, I’m like, 'I don’t need to talk to nobody.' I’m like that. Even today, I fight myself. 'You don’t need to talk to anybody.' But then watching that, after seeing Izzy doing it, I’m like, maybe I should... Mental health and stuff, here and there, but not like an actual go out and pay somebody. We talk to someone because we know someone, but I want to try and maybe set up sessions and see how it is."
Check out Max Holloway's comments below (37:46):