Yardbarker
x
Israel Adesanya Return: 'For me, it’s not about belts anymore.'
Jasmin Frank-Imagn Images

Israel Adesanya Return: 'For me, it’s not about belts anymore.'

Originally posted on Dice City Sports  |  By Robert LaMar  |  Last updated Dec 27, 2025 4:58 PM ET

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya isn’t putting a date on his return to competition but he’s also not closing the door on another walk to the Octagon. Now 36 years old, Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) finds himself at a crossroads rarely visited during a career defined by activity, dominance, and confidence. After years at the top of the sport, the former champion is riding a three-fight losing streak and will officially reach his first one-year layoff since joining the UFC roster in early 2018 on Feb. 1.

Adesanya’s relentless fight schedule was once a hallmark of both his kickboxing days and his meteoric rise through MMA. But time, mileage, and the grind of championship-level competition have naturally slowed the pace.

These days, Adesanya is keeping a lower profile and even having some fun with the uncertainty surrounding his future.

“Whenever I’m out and about in Auckland, every day I always get the, ‘Oh, are you retired?’” Adesanya said during a Q&A session at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA in Thailand.
“At first, I used to explain myself like, ‘Nah, I’m just taking a break and doing other things.’ But now I just go, ‘Yeah, I’m retired.’ Until they see me on a poster.”

Losses That Came Against the Elite

While the recent skid doesn’t look flattering on paper, the context tells a far more forgiving story. Adesanya’s defeats have come against Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov three of the top four fighters in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie middleweight rankings.

There have been no tune-ups, no soft landings only elite competition at every turn.

A Shift in Motivation: Freedom Over Gold

If and when Adesanya does return, it won’t be with the same championship-or-bust mindset that fueled his reign.

“For me, it’s not about belts anymore,” Adesanya said. “I got two shiny belts at home. They look good. I just want to fight.”

Instead, Adesanya says he wants to reconnect with the version of himself that fought freely on the way up the creative, experimental striker who took risks before expectations tightened around him.

“I still fought really well when I was defending the belt, but I want to fight more freely,” he said. “I want to try some risky sht like I used to. Remember the Brad Tavares fight? I think in the first round I went for an Imanari Roll that failed. I want to try sht like that again.”

The Timeline Is Unclear The Door Is Open

Adesanya isn’t promising a comeback date, nor is he making guarantees about how many fights remain. What he is offering is clarity about his mindset: fulfillment over accolades, creativity over caution.

For one of the most influential champions of the modern UFC era, that alone suggests that the story isn’t finished even if the next chapter is being written on Adesanya’s terms.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!