Two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who previously suggested he may not compete again until 2027, has hinted at an earlier return date in a recent interview.
Israel Adesanya’s return to the ring might be sooner than you’d expect. The two-time UFC middleweight champ has been on a self-imposed break since his title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September. He hinted at not competing again until 2027. But, in a recent chat with iFL TV, Adesanya hinted he might’ve been pulling our leg.
“I’m taking my time,” Adesanya shared. He’s had a whirlwind of four fights in 14 months as a UFC champion. That’s pretty wild, right? He was the most active champ, not just a fighter, in the league. Life’s nudged him to take a breather, and he’s doing just that. But, he promises, “you will see me soon.”
He joked about a 2027 return and was amused that some folks took him seriously. “But you’ll see,” he teased. After bagging an interim title in 2019, Adesanya’s star shot up in the UFC universe. He knocked out Robert Whittaker in a unification bout and defended the middleweight championship five times in a row. But, he’s lost two of his last three fights, splitting a title fight series with Alex Pereira, and then losing to Strickland.
Who’s next on Adesanya’s fight list if he steps into the octagon in 2024? That’s anyone’s guess. But, undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev seems ready to step up. “The Wolf” posted a cryptic Instagram post on Saturday. The first slide showed his recent win over Kamaru Usman, and the second slide featured an image of Adesanya.