Israel Adesanya pulls out from UFC

Israel Adesanya, the former UFC middleweight champion, has declared that he will be taking a hiatus from the octagon.

This decision comes approximately a month after he suffered a stunning upset loss, relinquishing his Middleweight belt to underdog Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia.

The defeat has been termed as one of the most significant upsets in MMA history.

The 34-year-old Nigerian-born Australian fighter has stated that his break from the UFC is essential for refocusing, reevaluating his lifestyle, and preparing for his future after enduring his third competitive loss in the UFC.

Adesanya acknowledged Strickland’s victory and refused to make excuses, saying,

“Strickland got me on the night because he was the better fighter on the night, and he did his work well. He had a good team behind him. Now I’m going to take time to look after myself.

“I’m not going to fight for a long time. I’m definitely not going to retire because that’s not me.”

He also mentioned that if he did decide to retire, he would be content with his accomplishments and doesn’t feel the need to prove anything further.

However, Adesanya expressed his confidence in what he can achieve and the lifestyle changes he can make to bring his body to its peak performance level.

Israel Adesanya emphasized the toll that the past 14 months had taken on his body, with four fights in that duration. He plans to take an extended break to recover and heal himself.

He cryptically suggested,

“When I come back, [opponents] better run for the hills.”

In an intriguing development, Adesanya revealed that Khamzat Chimaev could have been his opponent at UFC 294.

However, his team declined the opportunity due to his sabbatical. Instead, the undefeated Chimaev is set to face fellow Nigerian fighter Kamaru Usman on October 21.

On a separate note, Israel Adesanya recently faced legal issues in New Zealand, admitting guilt to charges of drunk driving.

He was found to have a blood alcohol level of 87 milligrams per 100 milliliters, exceeding the legal limit of 50 milligrams in New Zealand.

He is scheduled to return to court on January 10 to receive his sentencing, which could entail fines of up to $2,680 or a three-month jail term.