Adesanya Talks UFC Retirement – ‘Maybe Three Years Away’
Israel Adesanya has opened up on his retirement plans moving forward.
The former UFC Middleweight Champion is suffering from the worst form of his career. He has consecutive defeats for the first time in his career after experiencing a shock loss against Dricus Du Plessis in his last fight at UFC 307. Adesanya was submitted in round four, losing a chance to regain his middleweight title. He lost the title in the fight before, losing to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 after having beaten Alex Pereira at UFC 287 to get it.
After the Strickland defeat, Adesanya said he would take some time off before deciding his next move. Given that he came unstuck against Du Plessis, it naturally raises question marks over his future. Adesanya will likely have to fight the up-and-coming contenders in the division to get himself closer to a title shot. The division is stacked with dangerous fighters such as Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker.
Adesanya’s Challenge
Chimaev showed how dangerous he is having stopped Whittaker in his last fight in the first round. Strickland is also ahead of Adesanya, with Dana White saying he would rematch Du Plessis next. Meanwhile, Chimaev is also ahead of Adesanya in the pecking order. Izzy may have to ask himself whether he wants to fight without any title on the line. His next opponent has not been announced, but he has been linked with a bout against Nassourdine Imavov.
Reports indicate that this fight could take place in Saudi Arabia next year for the Kingdom’s second UFC event. Imavov is no easy task. He is on a three-fight win streak, having beaten Brendan Allen in his last fight. His UFC record stands at seven wins, a no-contest and two losses. One of those losses came against Strickland last year. It shows he has fought on the biggest stage, meaning Adesanya cannot afford to overlook him if he does indeed face him next. But Izzy also made it clear that he does not intend to fight when he is 40, as the 35-year-old is planning for his life outside of the UFC.
Adesanya Reacts
“I’ve said this already, with what I’ve already done in this game, a lot of people don’t even get to the belt, get to the UFC. I’ve done it twice. Still the only two-time UFC middleweight champion. If what I’ve already done won’t make me happy, what will? I’m happy but I’m not content. I still have a few things I want to try, a few moves I want to do…
“You’ve got to break up with fighting before fighting breaks up with you… When will I? I don’t know. I said at 20-something, ‘When I’m 34 I’m done with this game’. I’m 35 now. But I know I’m over the halfway point and I’m definitely a few years away, maybe three years away. But who knows? I know I don’t want to be fighting at 40,” Adesanya said
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