Israel Adesanya seemed to start on another dominant rule about the UFC Middleweight Division after one of the best knockouts of 2023.
When a late finish for Alex Pereira in November 2023 marked the first loss of his 185-pound career and the end of his long-term championship storage, Adesanya immediately aimed his sights on salvation.
And he got that only five months later at UFC 287 in Miami, where Adesanya Pereira brutally brutally struck to finally get one about his old combat sport rival.
Not much would have predicted what would come, but it seems that UFC CEO Dana White may have had his worries.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Dana White warned Israel Adesanya against making a quick change to head UFC 293
During a recent episode of his young husband Ramble Podcast, with Sean O'Malley and coach Tim Welch as guests, Adesanya looked back at the start of his constant misery in the Octagon.
The second middleweight reign of the Nigerian-New Zeelander was quickly terminated in a shocking way, with Sean Strickland Adesanya on UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia made up.
That result came only five months after Adesanya's fight with Pereira and was the newest competition in a very active period, which spoke about potential burnout.
It turned out that something white had warned the then champion, shortly after his return to the throne against Pereira.
“I had something like this:” No, I have to fight in Sydney. I haven't fought this side of the world for so long, “said Adesanya.
“Dana was like:” Listen, kid, you have enough money, but relaxing for a while. ” … I had something like 'nah', and I became completely stubborn.
“In retrospect I was so, maybe Dana was right, maybe I just had to cool,” Adesanya added.
Israel Adesanya has lost three consecutively since he finally defeated Alex Pereira
The surprise with five rounds against Strickland was the first of three defeats to follow the memorable Ko of Adesanya against 'Patan'.
'The Last Stylebender' acknowledged the need for some time away from the competition and took 11 months off after losing Strickland before he immediately returned to a title shot.
But the resorting match against Dricus Du Plessis in August 2024 did not go the way of Adesanya, with the 35-year-old suffering a entry lock in round four of the competitive pay-per-view Headliner.
Adesanya was recently stopped striking by someone who was not called Alex Pereira for the first time in his fighting career.
After a strong first round for the former two-time middleweight king, Nassourdine Imavov was able to rock him and find the interruption in round two in UFC Saudi Arabia in February 2025.
It is still to be seen what Adesanya will wait, but the UFC legend has been talking about a pension for the time being.
Although an opponent is not confirmed, 'The Last Stylebender' has made his wish to meet Strickland in a rematch clear, hoping even their score in the cage after a frustrating night down under two years ago.