It sounds like we’ll see Israel Adesanya back inside the Octagon before 2027.
Following his shocking unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September, ‘The Last Stylebender’ told the world he would be taking some much-needed time off. It was an understandable decision after dropping the middleweight title for the second time in less than 12 months.
Arriving in Riyadh to take in the massive Day of Reckoning boxing card, Adesanya briefly spoke with heavyweight boxing standout Derek Chisora about his break away from the fight game after becoming the most active champion in UFC history.
“Me right now, I’m taking my time,” Adesanya told Chisroa during an interview with IFL TV. “My last few fights, I had four fights in fourteen months as a champion. In the UFC, that’s unheard of. I was the most active champion. Not fighter, champion, in the league.”
Initially, Adesanya told reporters that he wouldn’t be back in action until 2027. Obviously, ‘Stylebender’ was exaggerating in his statement, but from the sound of it, the promotion’s only two-time middleweight titleholder will be back earlier than expected.
It looks like we might see Israel Adesanya back very soon.
Maybe UFC 300, because he said he wants to be apart of that.
Via @IFLTV YT pic.twitter.com/8l28SxHql7
— Jimmy Luke (@Joshjoshmma) December 22, 2023
With the promotion already gearing up for its next big milestone event, UFC 300, rumors are beginning to fly that Israel Adesanya will be part of the festivities.
It’s been a whirlwind year for the ex-champ. After surrendering the 185-pound crown to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, Adesanya bounced back with an impressive second-round KO of ‘Poatan’ to reclaim the middleweight title. Five months later, he would hand the belt off to short-notice challenger Sean Strickland.
With Strickland set to defend the title against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January, it’s possible that the winner could find themselves tasked with taking on the ‘Stylebender’ as part of the promotion’s mega-sized event on April 13.
