Israel Adesanya is eager to step back into the Octagon, but the fight he had his heart set on seems to be slipping away after a controversial UFC star chose to overlook his challenge.
It’s been more than two years since Adesanya last celebrated a victory in the UFC. He initially reclaimed his position as the middleweight champion with a spectacular knockout of Alex Pereira, but his fortunes took a turn when he faced Sean Strickland at UFC 293, where he suffered a shocking defeat.
Since that pivotal moment, the 185-pound icon has faced further setbacks, including a submission loss to Dricus du Plessis during their title bout in Perth, followed by a knockout defeat against Nassourdine Imavov in Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
Following his harsh loss to Imavov, many speculated that retirement might be on the horizon for the Nigerian-New Zealander. However, Adesanya quickly dismissed those notions, expressing his desire to fight again and even targeting a rematch with Strickland as a chance for redemption.
Strickland’s victory over Adesanya is often regarded as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, and Adesanya has been vocal about wanting to avenge that loss. Earlier this year, he publicly called out Strickland for a rematch, stating that it was the only fight that truly interested him.
However, Strickland has not responded to these calls, and his return to the UFC has been postponed due to a suspension stemming from an incident where he attacked a regional fighter while cornering a teammate.
In light of this situation, Adesanya has decided to expand his options and is now open to fighting anyone, indicating that he has "moved on" from his previous rival.
"I mean, I’m not surprised," Adesanya shared with Submission Radio when asked about Strickland ignoring his challenge. "If you want to get something done right, do it right the first time. That’s the lesson I learned.
"He’s busy with his own life and has made the money he wanted to make. I don’t want to be left waiting around. I’ve moved on. I just want to fight... I’m staying ready for any and everyone."
Although Adesanya may not currently be in the title picture, he remains attentive to the developments in his division. He recently watched as Imavov, his last opponent, secured another victory against Caio Borralho at UFC Paris, positioning himself as a potential challenger to Khamzat Chimaev’s title.
Adesanya is not dismissing Imavov’s chances in that matchup. "I’m not going to count out Imavov now, because of his takedown defense," he remarked on his YouTube channel. "If he can neutralize Khamzat’s wrestling, he’ll pose some serious problems. That’s the key. Khamzat can strike, but his wrestling is his primary weapon. He gets a grip, takes people down, and keeps them there. If Nassourdine can get past that, he’ll give Khamzat a tough time.
"Right now, Khamzat is on point and has the momentum, but so does Imavov. Who will come out on top? We’ll have to wait and see."
This situation raises intriguing questions about the dynamics of the middleweight division. Will Adesanya find a worthy opponent soon, or will he continue to be sidelined by the choices of others? And what do you think about Strickland’s decision to ignore Adesanya’s callout? Share your thoughts in the comments!
