Adesanya Reveals He Was Lost During UFC Skid

Israel Adesanya says he finally feels like himself again after three years of struggling to enjoy competition.

The former two-time UFC middleweight champion has not fought since Joe Pyfer knocked him out in the second round at UFC Seattle in March. Appearing on Demetrious Johnson's podcast, Adesanya announced he signed a contract for his next fight and admitted the sport had stopped being enjoyable during his recent slide. "The last three years have just not been fun," he said, per MMA Mania. "I've been lost, so I've been found again."

Adesanya Targeting December Return Against Magomedov

Adesanya is reportedly set to face Shara Magomedov at UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 6, 2026, according to MMA Mania, though uncertainty about the event persists because of regional security concerns. Dana White has maintained the promotion will move forward with the card. The matchup would mark Adesanya's first UFC appearance without long-time team City Kickboxing in his corner.

Adesanya is riding a four-fight losing streak, the first extended skid of his career. He has not won since stopping Alex Pereira in their April 2023 rematch. Speaking about his upcoming return, Adesanya promised fans would see a different version of himself. "There will be blood in the sand, and it won't be me," he said.

The bout would give Adesanya a chance to prove that changing camps and rediscovering his motivation can reverse a three-year decline. Whether the adjustments come too late remains the central question heading into December.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — ‘Found’ Israel Adesanya admits fighting hasn’t been fun for years — ‘I was lost’