“Four championship fights in 14 months!” Israel Adesanya goes on sabbatical after Sean Strickland defeat; will ‘not fight for long time’

After fighting in back-to-back championship battles since 2022, Israel Adesanya will take a hiatus from the octagon.

“Four championship fights in 14 months!” Israel Adesanya goes on sabbatical after Sean Strickland defeat; will ‘not fight for long time’

Israel Adesanya will go on a hiatus after back to back championship fights ( Image via Imago / X )

Israel Adesanya has decided to take a break from his MMA journey. After his recent title loss to Sean Strickland, Adesanya opted for an extended hiatus from the sport.

Israel Adesanya had been one of the most active fighters on the roster over the past few years. He has participated in five title fights within just twenty months. These frequent fights have taken a toll on Adesanya, which ultimately became evident in his surprising loss to Strickland at UFC 293.

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In his own words, Adesanya shared, “I’m trying to do as much as I can. But after this fight, and again, 14 months and four fights, it’s not just the fights, it’s the training and everything…” Adesanya revealed that he went into the Alex Pereira fight with injuries. Now, he has decided to prioritize self-care, stating, “Now I’m going to take time to look after myself, and I’m not going to fight for a long time.”

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Therefore, we will not see Adesanya in the MMA spotlight in the coming months as he focuses on recovery. However, Adesanya clarified that he was definitely not retiring from the UFC. He stated that he does not need to prove anything more. ” I don’t need to prove anything else. But I know what I can do and what I can change in my lifestyle…,” he said. Adesanya will now prioritize preparing his body for the future.

Related: “Maybe the judges were right…” Israel Adesanya and team troll Alexander Volkanovski about Islam Makhachev loss to get him to jump into lake

Who are some of Israel Adesanya’s most recent opponents?

Israel Adesanya’s last fight took place last month at UFC 293. He faced Sean Strickland in the main event and lost his middleweight title belt during this fight.

Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya taking a break from the UFC ( Image via X )

Before this, Israel Adesanya fought at UFC 287, facing Alex Pereira for the middleweight championship. Adesanya won the fight with a knockout finish in the second round. This fight took place in this year’s April at the FTX Arena in Miami, Florida. UFC 287 marked his second encounter with Alex Pereira in the UFC.

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Their first fight was significant in the UFC, as Israel Adesanya reigned dominantly as the champion. Alex Pereira’s victory marked a change in the championship status in the middleweight division. That fight took place in November of 2022. The main bout of UFC 276 featured Israel Adesanya and Jared Cannonier. Israel Adesanya fought in the middleweight title bout and won the fight against Jared Cannonier. This fight took place in July of 2022.

Fighting at such a high level and quickly facing tough opponents have made Adesanya reconsider his fighting career at the moment. Fight fans might not see Adesanya for a year if he keeps his promise not to fight.

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