Despite dropping two consecutive fights for the first time in his MMA career, Israel Adesanya still feels the middleweight title is within reach.
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While appearing on the Adam Carolla Show, “The Last Stylebender” reflected on his loss to Dricus Du Plessis and spoke about when he could step back into the Octagon.
“It was just a moment in the fight where it was my footwork, I did something. I slipped and then pointed to the ground like, ‘It wasn’t you, it was the ground.’ In that moment, I shouldn’t have pointed to the ground,” he said, recounting the bout’s final moments.
“He jumped on that. And look, this is the game. I know I messed up, my bad,” Israel Adesanya continued. “I wanted to actually be in a fight. And it was a good fight. I enjoyed myself.”
Israel Adesanya Eyeing Late 2024 or Early 2025 Return
That main event against Du Plessis marked Israel Adesanya’s first fight in almost a year. In September of 2023, he was on the wrong side of an upset against Sean Strickland which cost him the strap.
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The inactivity was departure from the frequent activity that became a hallmark of his ascension and reign as champion. In less than five years between his Octagon debut and the Strickland, Adesanya fought 16 times. That included 11 title fights, seven defenses, and two weight classes.
However, instead of taking time away to regroup as he did following UFC 293, this time he wants to be active. That would likely take a rematch with Du Plessis or Strickland, who are penciled in for their own do over, off of the table for now.
Adesanya speculates that the fight will take place “probably next year. So that’s why I don’t like to wait around.”
“I want to fight one more time before the end of this year or early next year. But I don’t know yet. I’m just training, building off where we left off. I’ll get the call at some point with a few options. I’m sure Dana [White] will hit me up at some point.”
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