Israel Adesanya next fight: What is next for The Last Stylebender after UFC 293 loss?

After his disappointing loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293, Israel Adesanya has decided to take a step back from fighting. Since his debut in 2018, The Last Stylebender has fought at least twice yearly. As such, he fought thrice in 2022 and twice in 2023. Therefore, a break would allow him to recover and regain his head in the game.

In an appearance on the New Zealand show The Rock, Adesanya talked about his future. He said he wants to take some time off and improve his current lifestyle. Furthermore, he also clarified that he wasn’t contemplating retirement anytime soon. However, there is a chance that he might not fight till 2025 at the earliest.

Adesanya was defeated for the first time in the middleweight division after his fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 281. Alex defeating Adesanya twice outside UFC made fans assume The Stylebender had finally found his kryptonite. However, after UFC 287, Adesanya proved that he was still the best in the division. He returned with a vicious second-round knockout win over Pereira and proved why he must never be counted out.

Although he defended his title 5 times in his first reign as middleweight champion, his second ended instantly at UFC 293. Israel Adesanya lost to Sean Strickland via a unanimous decision in Australia. It was one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Moreover, he was beaten comprehensively over five rounds, making the loss even more painful for the former champion.

Related: Israel Adesanya’s girlfriend: Know all about The Last Stylebender’s relationship life

Will Israel Adesanya’s next fight be a rematch against Sean Strickland?

After his loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293, many believed Adesanya would get an immediate rematch against him. After all, he did receive an immediate rematch after his loss to Alex Pereira. Unfortunately, this time that might not be the case.

Izzy seems determined to work on himself and take a long time off the fight game before returning. He credited Strickland and his team for their victory at UFC 293. Moreover, he acknowledged that Strickland was the better fighter on the night. Now, all he wants to do is rest and recover. As such, an immediate rematch is not on the cards.

Will Israel Adesanya fight Dricus du Plessis in the future?

Israel Adesanya was likely to fight Dircuss Du Plessis at UFC 293, but the fight never happened as Du Plessis had to pull out because of an injury. This paved the way for Strickland, who made the best of that opportunity. In light of Adesanya’s decision to take a long hiatus from the game, it is unlikely we will see the two cross paths soon.

The Last Style bender has been one of the most dominant middleweights in the UFC. He has defeated the likes of Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier in quick succession after his loss to Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya’s fight against Blachowicz was his light heavyweight debut.

Where is Israel Adesanya now?

Adesanya resides in the town of Aukland, New Zealand. Moreover, he is affiliated with City Kickboxing, a gym known for its equal treatment of all fighters. The gym is also home to another champion in the form of Alexander Volkanovski. As such, the former middleweight champion will most likely spend most of his time in Auckland.

Moreover, Adesanya’s vowing to improve his game solidifies the claim that he will do so at the City Kickboxing gym in Auckland. Fans would hope that Izzy returns to the octagon as soon as possible. Yet, even they would agree he needs time to recuperate after being one of the most active fighters in the UFC since his debut in 2018.

FAQs

He fought Sean Strickland at UFC 293.

As of now, he has decided to go on a hiatus.

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