In September, Israel Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion, shocked the MMA world by announcing he would step back from the Octagon until 2027. The decision followed his loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293, a title vacation . Fans were left confused and worried about the future of one of the game’s most electrifying fighters.
However, Adesanya made a surprise return to the UFC in 2024, where he faced reigning champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in Australia. The sudden change of plans caused many to question his initial seriousness. Recently, Adesanya addressed the confusion in an interview and gave an insight into his thoughts and ideas.
Adesanya Takes Silence on Retirement Prank
Normally known for his intense focus and seriousness, Israel Adesanya showed off the lighter side of MMA in an interview with Daniel Cormier on Cormier’s YouTube channel.
When Cormier asked him how he felt about his words causing such a stir, Adesanya responded with a mixture of humor and frustration. “I suppose, but for me the only thing I see is how stupid people are,” he said. Adesanya explained that his remarks were in jest, and he used sarcasm during a conversation with his boss, Oscar. “The internet is full of idiots. We buy everything,” Adesanya joked, expressing disbelief at how his blunder became viral. “So I just let it ride,” he added, admitting the comedy has taken on a life of its own.
The Return Visit Did not go as Planned
Adesanya has few plans to surprise fans with a triumphant comeback after a year-long hiatus. When he stepped into the Octagon to face Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305, he failed miserably. Du Plessis became the first fighter to submit under Adesanya, a loss that hit Strickland harder than his previous defeat.
The submission loss to du Plessis was a shocking moment in Adesanya’s career, which left fans and analysts alike questioning his future in the sport, but Adesanya’s coach Eugene Berman believes this latest hurdle may not be hard to take atomic as it would appear.
Coach Berman Reflects on the Fall of Strickland and Du Plessis
Eugene Berman, who has been with Adesanya throughout his journey in the UFC, recently shared his thoughts on back-to-back defeats. Speaking on the ‘Who the Fuck Are These Guys’ podcast, Bereman compared the psychological defeats against Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis.
“The loss of Strickland, he’ll never get,” Berman said bluntly. “You just fought badly, and it was indescribable.” It was a humbling experience for Adesanya, a fighter known as one of the greatest strikers in UFC history to have Strickland step on his heels. Strickland dropped Adesanya in the first round, nearly ending the fight, a moment that Bareman claims will hurt Adesanya more than a submission loss to du Plessis.
Bereman detailed why the Strickland fight is hard to digest. “That step, Israel’s done that thousands of times and got out of it thousands of times,” he explained. The pressure from Strickland was something Adesanya did not anticipate, resulting in a far below expected performance.
The Future of Humanity
While Israel Adesanya is dealing with these setbacks, his future in the UFC remains uncertain. The psychological strain of loss, particularly Strickland’s unexpected dominance, raises questions about whether “The Last Stylebender” can recapture its former glory
Despite the setbacks, Adesanya’s impact on the game is undeniable. His comments going as far back as 2027 may be laughable, but the challenges he faces now are anything but… whether he can overcome these obstacles and reach the top of the middleweight division is a matter for fans to watch well.
