Israel Adesanya has faced some of the fiercest warriors inside the UFC Octagon, but nothing could have prepared him for the battle he’s been fighting outside the cage. What began as a seemingly picture-perfect romance with Charlotte Powdrell in 2019 has spiraled into a messy breakup, a public feud, and now a rumored legal twist that’s got the MMA world buzzing. Reports have surfaced claiming that Powdrell, Adesanya’s ex-girlfriend, was ordered to pay him a jaw-dropping $500,000 following a legal dispute—an outcome that, if true, would flip the script on their bitter saga.
The rumor alone sent shockwaves through the MMA community, and one voice rose above the noise: UFC middleweight contender Jared Cannonier, a former opponent of Adesanya. Cannonier couldn’t resist chiming in, taking to his Instagram story with a cheeky jab. Quoting the Joker with “You get what you deserve,” he paired the post with Kanye West’s iconic track Gold Digger—a not-so-subtle dig at Powdrell, implying she’d gotten her just desserts after trying to cash in on Adesanya’s success.
Jared Cannonier’s Surprising Support: Rivals Turned Allies
Amid the chaos, Jared Cannonier’s reaction stands out—not just for its sass, but for what it reveals about his dynamic with Adesanya. These two aren’t strangers; they clashed in the Octagon at UFC 276 in July 2022, with Adesanya defending his middleweight title in a unanimous decision victory. It was a competitive fight, showcasing Cannonier’s power and resilience against Adesanya’s technical brilliance. You’d think a rivalry like that might breed lingering animosity, especially in a division as cutthroat as middleweight, where both men are still chasing gold.
Yet here’s Cannonier, throwing his support behind Adesanya in this off-the-cage saga. His Instagram post wasn’t just a jab at Powdrell—it was a nod to Adesanya, a subtle “I’ve got your back” from one warrior to another. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this kind of camaraderie in MMA; the sport has a way of forging respect between foes who’ve shared the cage. Cannonier, known for his no-nonsense demeanor and quiet confidence, clearly sees Adesanya as more than just a past opponent. It’s a testament to the mutual respect that can grow out of competition, even when titles and legacies are on the line.
Cannonier’s support adds another layer to this story. While he’s still a contender gunning for the belt Adesanya once held, he’s not above tipping his hat to “The Last Stylebender” in a moment of personal triumph—rumored or not. It’s a reminder that in the wild world of MMA, rivalries don’t always end in bad blood. Sometimes, they evolve into something closer to brotherhood, where a well-timed Kanye West track and a movie quote can say it all.
