Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is eager to make a return to the Octagon before the end of 2024. The Nigerian-born fighter recently fell out of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings for the first time in five years, following a submission loss to South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305, where he attempted to reclaim the middleweight title. This defeat marked Adesanya’s second consecutive loss, coming after a surprising upset against Sean Strickland that cost him the belt.
Despite these challenges, Adesanya, known as ‘The Last Stylebender,’ remains optimistic about his future in mixed martial arts. In a recent interview, he shared his plans for a comeback, stating, “Right now, after I just fought him (Du Plessis), I don’t think it’s going to be immediately. I’d rather just fight—not really for the belt, just fight for fighting’s sake. I want to fight one more time before the end of this year or early next year.”
Adesanya’s coach, Eugene Bareman, has also hinted at a possible return in 2024, mentioning that Adesanya continues to train actively with fighters at City Kickboxing. Adesanya appears focused on regaining his form rather than immediately vying for a title shot. He expressed interest in observing how upcoming fights in the middleweight division unfold, particularly the anticipated clash between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, as well as the bout between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev.
“I’m just training, building up where we left off. I’ll get the call at some point with a few options. I think Dana will hit me up at some point,” he said.
As Adesanya considers his next move, the middleweight division continues to evolve. Fighters like Islam Makhachev and Alex Pereira now occupy the top spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, with Aljamain Sterling taking Adesanya’s place in the list. Adesanya’s determination to return to the Octagon demonstrates his commitment to overcoming recent setbacks and reclaiming his status in the sport.
