“You’ll Never Catch Me” – Israel Adesanya Vows to Never Go Down Boxing Route

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya talks about why he would not transition to boxing after UFC retirement.

“You’ll Never Catch Me” – Israel Adesanya Vows to Never Go Down Boxing Route

Israel Adesanya denies move to boxing after UFC retirement (via MARCA, Bleacher Reprt)

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The transition of retired UFC fighters into professional boxing has become increasingly common in recent years, largely due to financial incentives and crossover appeal. Several former MMA stars have pursued the move with success, including Anderson Silva, who secured wins and significant paydays in the boxing ring. Israel Adesanya, however, has clearly denied any intention of boxing after retirement.

Adesanya is regarded as one of the most accomplished middleweight champions in UFC history, highlighted by a dominant title reign. His resume includes notable victories over Kelvin Gastelum, Robert Whittaker, and Alex Pereira, each reinforcing his elite striking credentials. Before MMA, he built a decorated kickboxing career. Multiple Glory Kickboxing titles further established his striking pedigree.

In recent years, Adesanya’s career trajectory has shifted following a string of high-level losses. He is currently on a three-fight losing streak, falling to Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis, and most recently to Nassourdine Imavov by knockout. These results have placed him in the latter stages of his career. That context intensified discussion around a potential boxing move.

For me, my career is going to end in the UFC, I believe. But never say never. I thought about this two months ago, and I always said like, nah, you’d never catch me (boxing). This is the ultimate form of fighting, which is mixed martial arts. You are using all your limbs, all your weapons. How can I now, as one of the guys in this game who’s been up there, say, ‘Oh, I’m just going to go box?’ I always said no because I felt like my legacy is already set in stone. But everyone has a number, and I think I got to my number two months ago.

Israel Adesanya via Bangtao Muay Thai

While addressing that speculation, Adesanya also acknowledged the financial barrier tied to stepping into the boxing ring. He noted that Saudi Arabian executive Turki Alalshikh would be the only figure capable of matching his required purse. Alalshikh is a significant force in global boxing investments. He is also a co-partner and major financial backer of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Despite rejecting boxing, Adesanya’s pure striking ability remains highly respected across combat sports. He has displayed exceptional knockout power and precision, particularly in his finishes of Whittaker and Pereira. His striking fundamentals translate cleanly to boxing. Even so, Adesanya has previously suggested that post-retirement pursuits could lean toward entertainment, including a possible WWE appearance.

Israel Adesanya’s stance carries added significance given his reputation as one of the UFC’s most creative fighters. He is widely recognized for his signature question mark kick and a diverse arsenal of refined striking techniques. Those innovations defined much of his championship run. By ruling out boxing, ‘Last Stylebender’ reinforces a legacy built entirely within mixed martial arts.

Israel Adesanya almost gets knocked out by his coach during a seminar

For the majority of his professional career, Israel Adesanya has been based at City Kickboxing in Auckland, New Zealand. The gym has served as his primary training home throughout his rise to championship status. Under the guidance of head coach Eugene Bareman, Adesanya developed his striking-heavy style. He has also trained alongside elite teammates such as Alexander Volkanovski and Dan Hooker.

Israel Adesanya and Eugene Bareman
Israel Adesanya and Eugene Bareman (via MMA Fighting)

More recently, Adesanya traveled to Phuket, Thailand, where he attended a two-day combat sports event. During the visit, he participated in meet-and-greet sessions and conducted training seminars with Bareman at Bangtao Muay Thai and MMA.

One seminar featured a technical demonstration focused on defending a feinted right hand. During the sequence, Bareman nearly rocked ‘The Last Stylebender’ while illustrating the movement.

The moment was handled calmly and without disruption, with Adesanya remaining composed throughout the exchange. The incident underscored the realistic nature of high-level demonstrations between experienced fighters and coaches. It also reflected the trust and familiarity built over years of working together.

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