Following his victory in the UCF Middleweight Championship, New Zealand-based Mixed Martial Artist Israel Adesanya, who was born in Nigeria, was greeted by a performance of the Haka dance in Auckland, New Zealand.
A video of Adesanya receiving a hero’s welcome from his supporters, who then proceeded to execute a traditional Maori ritual on the road, went viral on Thursday.
Adesanya won his last fight against Alex Pereira by knockout to reclaim the middleweight crown at UFC 287 in Miami. He knocked Pereira out in the second round.
The Haka is a traditional Mori dance that is often done in a group setting at ceremonies and festivities. The purpose of the dance is to honour visitors and demonstrate the significance of the event.
See video below:
