Israel Adesanya has the itch again: 'I'm ready to go'

Former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn't done fighting just yet. The 36 year-old has lost his last three fights but is ready to get back on the horse again. 

"The Last Stylebender" last fought in February, losing to Nassourdine Imavov via TKO. Following the loss, Adesanya took some time off but is back in the gym and has the itch to fight. 

“I sparred with Kamaru [Usman] in Miami when Volk [Alexander Volkanovski] got his belt back,” Adesanya told Sun Sport. “That was my first sparring back. I took some time off to let, you know, just chill and let the brain relax. And yeah, I just knew straight away. So I’ve been itchy for a while, bro. I’m ready to go!”

Adesanya is ranked No. 4 in the middleweight division. He has losses to the champion, Dricus Du Plessis, the top contender, Imavov, and No. 2 ranked Sean Strickland. He's open to a rematch with Strickland, or giving Paulo Costa a chance at redemption.

“I don’t have to say much. I’d be like, ‘Cool, alright, that sounds fun’ and give him (Costa) a chance at redemption like people have done for me as well. And Strickland, if he wants to fight, sure. If not, it’s alright," Adesanya said.

It's been two years since Adesanya ruled the 185-pound division, but he remains the biggest star in the weight class. While he's recently struggled to stay at to the of the division, he's not far removed from it. 

Du Plessis headlines UFC 319 on August. 19 against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. The outcome of that fight could shake up the middleweight pecking order. Strickland is coming off a second loss to Du Plessis while Costa snapped a two-fight losing streak at UFC 318, defeating Roma Kopylov via unanimous decision.

Whoever his next opponent turns out to be, Adesanya is ready to get back in there.