Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn’t putting a date on his return to competition but he’s also not closing the door on another walk to the Octagon. Now 36 years old, Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) finds himself at a crossroads rarely visited during a career defined by activity, dominance, and confidence. After years at the top of the sport, the former champion is riding a three-fight losing streak and will officially reach his first one-year layoff since joining the UFC roster in early 2018 on Feb. 1.
Adesanya’s relentless fight schedule was once a hallmark of both his kickboxing days and his meteoric rise through MMA.