Israel Adesanya’s third consecutive loss in the UFC’s middleweight division has raised questions about his future in the sport. The former two-time champion, who turned 35 recently, was unable to turn things around in his first non-title fight since 2019 against Nassourdine Imavov.
The loss, which came via second-round knockout, has led some fans to speculate about Adesanya’s potential retirement. However, the champion himself has downplayed this idea, stating that he isn’t going anywhere just yet. A win over Imavov would have put him back in title contention, and Adesanya didn’t start the fight badly.
So, where does Adesanya go next? While a trilogy clash with Marvin Vettori is on the cards, there are still suitable challenges available for him at middleweight if he wants to continue his career. With his former opponent calling out the champ, it remains to be seen whether Adesanya will take on the challenge and try to regain his title shot status.
Source: https://bloodyelbow.com/2025/02/03/never-been-the-same-joe-rogan-podcast-guest-takes-credit-for-israel-adesanyas-downfall