A video clip of UFC fighter Israel Adesanya expressing frustration about the pervasiveness of corruption in the most populous black nation is gaining traction online.
“Nigeria is a very corrupt place,” the 33-year-old mixed martial artist says in the clip from an April 6, 2022 episode of the Hotboxin’ podcast with host and boxing legend Mike Tyson.
“I love my people but it is just that the government, everyone is trying to find a way to siphon money from someone.”
The Nigerian-New Zealand MMA fighter adds that greed is a problem across Africa, not just Nigeria.
“It can happen in Nigeria, it can happen in South Africa, or it can happen in Morocco,” he states.
Adesanya reclaimed the middleweight title on Sunday by knocking out Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 287.
At the FTX Arena in Miami, Florida, it took two rounds for the self-proclaimed Last Stylebender to knock out his opponent.
