After winning the UFC middleweight title last month, Israel Adesanya had revealed plans to take his belt back to Nigeria.

He left Nigeria as a boy, but this past week returned as a UFC champion to a hero’s welcome.

“They’ve taken a lot of gold away from Africa, it’s time we take gold back to Africa,” he said after claiming the belt in a five-round classic against American Kelvin Gastelum.

Staying true to his word, the 29-year-old spent the past week in Lagos, revisiting those roots as well as promoting mixed martial arts.

Among his first point of call were a suya spot on the street of Lagos and his old school, Chrisland primary school in Lagos, saying he was filled with a different sense of wonder, pride and joy.

His social media pages were flooded with photos and videos updates of his visit and tour around the city of Lagos.

In a photo of his visit to his alma mater he shared on Instagram, he wrote,

“So much emotion as I returned back to my old primary school. Everything felt so small to me as I strolled my former stomping grounds (because) I’m a big boy now, but I was filled with a different sense of wonder, pride and joy.

“I saw myself as each of those kids and I couldn’t help but return to my child mind (not hard for me to do) and remember how I looked at the world at their ages. So many memories that I hadn’t even thought of in over 20 years came flooding back like flashbacks.

“It was a surreal, crazy and wonderful experience. I’ll remember this feeling forever.”

Adesanya also visited the National Stadium at Surulere where he trained with some young kickboxers, and also raced with other trainers.

Adesanya wowed many social media users with his dancing skills when he posted a video of himself dancing.

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No PR team needed. I don’t do it for the likes…I do it for the love ??

A post shared by Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) on May 19, 2019 at 4:32am PDT