Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has expressed his intention to return to the Octagon before the end of 2024, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
The Nigerian-born fighter, who recently fell out of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings for the first time in five years, is determined to prove he can still compete at the highest level.
Adesanya’s drop from the rankings followed his submission loss to South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305, where his attempt to reclaim the middleweight title ended in defeat. This marked his second consecutive loss after a surprising upset by Sean Strickland, which cost him the belt.
Despite these challenges, ‘The Last Stylebender’ remains positive about his future. In a recent interview, he outlined his plans for a comeback.
“Right now, after I just fought him (Du Plessis), I don’t think it’s going to happen immediately. I’d prefer to fight—not necessarily for the belt, but just for the sake of fighting. I want to get in one more fight before the end of this year or early next year,” Adesanya said.
His coach, Eugene Bareman, also hinted at a possible return in 2024, mentioning that Adesanya has stayed active, training alongside other fighters at City Kickboxing.
Adesanya’s focus appears to be on regaining his rhythm rather than rushing for a title shot. He has expressed interest in how the middleweight division plays out, including potential matchups like Sean Strickland vs. Dricus du Plessis and Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev.
