Scott Styris and Israel Adesanya. Photos / Photosport
Scott Styris and Israel Adesanya. Photos / Photosport
Former Black Cap Scott Styris has been slammed by fans after taking a swipe at Kiwi UFC superstar Israel Adesanya.
Adesanya defended his middleweight title against Yoel Romero at UFC 248 yesterday, claiming a victory by unanimous decision in Las Vegas. The recently named New Zealand Halberg Sportsman of the Year, who was born in Nigeria, is shown to be fighting under the Nigerian flag, with the UFC often classifying fighters by their country of birth, rather than country of residence.
Adesanya has always proudly draped the New Zealand flag over his shoulders in the octagon and although he has spoken about his desire to take a fight back to Africa, he has always made it clear that he sees himself as "a New Zealand middleweight champion".
However, Australian-born Styris, who represented New Zealand 248 times across all three formats before retiring in 2011, appeared to see things differently.
Adesanya was born in Lagos but moved to New Zealand with his family at the age of 10. As a New Zealand citizen, Adesanya meets protocol to be represented as a Kiwi fighter - but is often introduced by announcers as representing Nigeria.
Though some fans have commented that it's the UFC's policy to recognises a fighter's place of birth as their nationality in the octagon, the Herald understands Adesanya used to have the New Zealand flag next to him on the UFC's graphics but that it was recently changed to the Nigerian flag. This was supposedly done in an attempt for the UFC to appeal to their African audience, who can then see high-profile fighters like Adesanya represent countries such as Nigeria.
Fans and journalists were quick to point out to Styris that other leading New Zealand sportsmen, including Danny Lee, Scott Dixon, and, well, Styris himself, were also born overseas.
The UFC chyron always puts the place of birth as the flag. It’s why Buffer says Izzy fights out of “Auckland, New Zealand”, and why Whitaker fights out of Oz but walked to the Octagon with an NZ flag. It would make a confusing picture if you did the BlackCaps that way too
Last month Adesanya was named Sportsman of the Year at the Halberg Awards, beating out the likes of Tom Walsh, Scott McLaughlin and Kane Williamson to become the first combat sport athlete to win the top gong since 1953.
In a powerful acceptance speech, Adesanya called for an end to "tall poppy" syndrome in New Zealand society.
"Understand this, if you see one of us shining – whether it be the netball team, the Black Caps, the sailors – pump them up, embrace them, because if they win, we win. If I win, you win," Adesanya said.
"Understand that. And I know some of you will be a little salty but hey stay salty, may the black Kiwi fly all day."
Israel Adesanya delivered an iconic acceptance speech at the Halberg Awards. Photo / Photosport
Adesanya has previously spoken out about the apparent controversy around him fighting under the New Zealand flag.
Speaking to reporters before his fight against Kelvin Gastelum last year, he said the comments didn't bother him.
