Israel Adesanya, the former middleweight champion of the UFC, won’t be making a quick trip back to the Octagon following his defeat at UFC 293.
At UFC 293 last month, Adesanya was defeated by Sean Strickland by unanimous decision. Adesanya began the battle as a sizable betting favourite, making it one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
Some people wonder if Adesanya will decide to run the middleweight title back with Strickland right away after losing it for the second time in his UFC career. According to UFC President Dana White, he may have earned it.
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Israel Adesanya Return To The Fighting Octagon
With five championship fights in the last 20 months, Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) has been one of the most busy fighters on the roster during the past few years. He has enjoyed the opportunity to enter the octagon frequently, but he feels that it has begun to catch up. This was evident in his shocking defeat to Strickland at UFC 293 in September, which caused him to lose the 185-pound title.
Adesanya recently in “The Rock” podcast stated:
“Now I’m going to take time to look after myself, and I’m not going to fight for a long time. I’m definitely not going to retire because I know me – I’m not leaving like that. I know me. But if I did, I’m fine.” also adding “ I’m going to heal myself up. You won’t see me fight for a long time.”
Adesanya didn’t give a specific date or prospective opposition for his comeback. However, the 34-year-old believed that this was the ideal time to leave.
It was discovered Adesanya had been arrested and charged with drunk driving just 18 days before UFC 293 after the champion was defeated by Strickland. He acknowledged his bad choices and promised to do better in the future.
