Why does Israel Adesanya hate Monster Energy? Is there a villain in this UFC lore?
Israel Adesanya, over the years, has been seen discarding Monster Energy labels in each of his interview appearance in UFC
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Israel Adesanya does not like Monster Energy (Image via UFC.com/Instagram)
Israel Adesanya defeated Alex Pereira at UFC 287, but his post-fight press conference captured everyone’s attention. Adesanya’s table had a certain thing missing. Generally, there is a Monster Energy bottle on the table during the post-fight conferences. However, Israel Adesanya has a problem with Monster Energy because of their alleged exploitative practice with fighters.
This animosity may be because of a Monster Energy executive called Hans Molenkamp. Adesanya, on many media days and post-fight conferences, throws or hides any Monster Energy label. Israel Adesanya always make sure that Monster Energy does not get any publicity from him. It could be hiding monster energy bottles under the table or sometimes thrown away.
Some even compared Izzy hiding monster energy with Cristiano Ronaldo removing Coca-Cola bottles during his press conference. However, he does not have much problems with other sponsors. So, that leads fans to the question – What is Israel Adesanya’s problem with Monster Energy?
Israel Adesanya’s problem with Monster Energy
Monster Energy has sponsored UFC for a long time. The Last Stylebender does not have problems with the brand itself. However, some individuals in the company have used their position to promote themselves. Adesanya addressed this controversy and blamed the brand for getting fighters to behave differently during fight promotions.
He also posted his problem with the energy drink brand on X (formerly Twitter). While the former middleweight champ hasn’t name-dropped the person, it’s common knowledge that he is talking about Hans Molenkamp. Many UFC fighters have the same problem with Molenkamp.
Who is Hans Molenkamp affiliated with Monster Energy?
Molenkamp holds a very influential position in Monster Energy. He is a brand builder and a marketer for the energy drink company. He gets to decide which fighter Monster Energy can sponsor and is also known to hold back payments when his demands aren’t met.
The brand builder has over 613,000 followers on Instagram and regularly posts contents about MMA and personal interest. Though he holds much power on which fighter gets sponsorships, he is a very unpopular personality among the UFC fighters.
UFC fighters apart from Israel Adesanya has beef with Hans Molenkamp
Monster pays a hefty sum to fighters as bonuses, and the brand builder decides who gets one. No fighter wants to miss out on the bonus and adheres to Molenkamp’s demands. However, Dominick Cruz, after his win at UFC 259, called out Molenkamp. Cruz later explained his stand on the matter.
Molenkamp has forced fighters including Cruz to interact with his page and post photos with them for fame and recognition. Similarly, UFC legend Michael Bisping claimed he lost his Monster sponsorship for telling Molenkamp that they were not friends.
Team Khabib’s Ali Abdelaziz has also blasted Molenkamp in the past. When the Dominick Cruz controversy started, Abdelaziz called the executive ‘a modern day slave master.’ He stated that his clients – Henry Cejudo, Kamaru Usman, and Cody Garbrandt also didn’t deal with the Monster executive for making UFC champions and legends to ‘play his game.’
On many occasions, Molenkamp has been known to terminate fighters from Monster Energy’s bonus list. This issue was further affirmed by UFC CEO Dana White, who has called out Molenkamp for using fighters to get clout and be labeled as ‘goofy.’ Dana White, however, clarified that the relationship of UFC with Monster remains stellar, with the fighters not necessarily having any problems with the brand.
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Siddid Dey Purkayastha
(528 Articles Published)