Israel Adesanya's Determination to Return

Israel Adesanya, the former middleweight champion of the UFC, is eager to return to the octagon sooner rather than later, despite facing setbacks in his recent fights. The once-dominating fighter made his comeback at UFC 305 in Perth this past August after a nearly year-long absence. Unfortunately, he encountered a tough defeat against Dricus Du Plessis, where he was submitted in the fourth round, marking his second consecutive loss and his third in four fights.

A Fighter's Passion

Despite these challenges, Adesanya remains undeterred and passionate about fighting. During an appearance on *The Adam Carolla Show*, he expressed his desire to compete again, perhaps as early as this year. "Even though I don’t have the belt, they still got my name in their mouth," he stated confidently. "I’m still Israel Adesanya. At the moment, I want to fight one more time before the end of this year, or early next year. I’m just training, building off where we left off. I’ll get the call at some point."

A Storied Career

Adesanya's fighting history is storied. Known for his dynamic style and effectiveness inside the octagon, he was one of the most active champions during his reign. He lost his title to longtime adversary Alex Pereira at UFC 281 in November 2022 but managed to reclaim it with an impressive knockout performance at UFC 287 in April 2023.

Reevaluating Strategy

However, the glory was short-lived, as Sean Strickland's unexpected victory at UFC 293 in September 2023 led Adesanya to reconsider his approach to the sport. His latest fight against Du Plessis was fiercely competitive, but he acknowledges a crucial mistake during the bout that may have cost him the match.

Acknowledging Mistakes

"It was just a moment in the fight where it was my footwork," he recalled. "I slipped and made a gesture to the ground, indicating it was the ground’s fault. That moment was pivotal and I shouldn’t have pointed. He took advantage of it."

A Positive Outlook

Adesanya maintains a positive outlook, emphasizing his enjoyment of competitive fighting above all. "Look, this is the game. I messed up, but I wasn’t really attached to the outcome. I wanted to show off and be in a good fight, and it was indeed a good fight," he reflected.

Looking Ahead

As he gears up for potential upcoming bouts, fans are left wondering who he will face next. Adesanya’s resilience and hunger for competition suggest we can expect an electrifying return to the UFC, excitedly awaiting his next move post-fight. “I can’t wait to do it again,” he said eagerly. “Against who? We’ll find out.”

A Fan's Question

UFC fans are undoubtedly curious to see how Adesanya will bounce back from these challenges, and whether he can once again rise to the top of the middleweight division.