Fitness influencer Sam McCarthy took on the liver shot challenge courtesy of UFC superstar Israel Adesanya’s left hand.
Israel Adesanya‘s power and precision looked in prime form at the expense of fitness influencer Sam McCarthy’s midsection.
Adesanya faces surging middleweight Nassourdine Imavov in the UFC Saudi Arabia main event this Saturday in Riyadh. He returns to the Octagon looking to end the first losing streak of his MMA career and to get back into the title mix.
Adesanya has had an eventful buildup to his first non-title UFC fight since UFC 234. He’s teamed up with former foes during his fight camp and seems relieved to be in a smaller spotlight after dealing with everything that comes with being a superstar athlete.
McCarthy, a popular health and wellness influencer, experienced Adesanya’s energy first-hand ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia. Just days before entering the Octagon, Adesanya accepted McCarthy’s request to get punched in the liver for a viral moment on his social media.
Israel Adesanya ‘felt energy travel’ during wild liver shot challenge
After getting McCarthy to agree to a medical waiver verbally, Adesanya launched a stinging left uppercut to McCarthy’s body that made a disgusting sound. Luckily, McCarthy wasn’t seriously injured, although it was “definitely winded” due to the experience.
Adesanya went as far as to say he felt “energy travel” from his left hand as he landed the body shot. Paulo Costa, Jared Cannonier, and others have experienced Adesanya’s body striking precision first-hand inside the Octagon.
Adesanya isn’t the only UFC fighter who has been obliged to various requests from amateurs to participate in body shot challenges. Adesanya’s former rival, Alex Pereira, dropped a bunny suit-donning YouTube with a body shot two months ago in a viral clip.
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Adesanya’s striking prowess is traced back to his decorated run in kickboxing before eventually transitioning to MMA. Years before joining the UFC, Adesanya dropped three men in one night to become one of kickboxing’s hot commodities.
Adesanya’s last two opponents, Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland will headline UFC 312 next weekend in Australia. A win over Imavov could potentially earn Adesanya another title shot as he plots his route back to the belt.
Adesanya made several significant changes ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia. One of the most surprising changes Adesanya made was adding Robert Whittaker to his fight camp, after their two fights inside the Octagon and at times, tense rivalry.
In the meantime, Adesanya appears in good spirits ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia, and McCarthy will likely think twice next time he signs off on taking a body shot from a top fighter.