Israel Adesanya, one of the most active competitors in UFC history, has had a tumultuous journey since his debut on February 11, 2018, to losing his title to Sean Strickland on September 10, 2023. In this time, he participated in 16 fights, averaging three fights a year, with 11 of those being title matches. However, the intensity of this schedule took its toll, particularly after his split fights with rival Alex Pereira, where he both lost and regained the middleweight title over six months while dealing with a knee injury.
Adesanya openly discussed the mental and physical strains that came with his career, including the pressures of promoting fights and his ongoing rivalries with Paulo Costa and Marvin Vettori. After struggling to find motivation to face Strickland, he conceded that he was exhausted by his demanding fight schedule.
Reflecting on his weariness, Adesanya shared, “Even before the Pereira fight, it was a hectic schedule for me. After the Strickland fight my body just said that I’m done and that I needed to chill out.” Following his loss to Strickland, Adesanya announced on a New Zealand radio show that he wouldn’t be fighting for “a long time.”
Despite initially joking about returning in 2027, Adesanya’s hiatus has lasted just over 11 months, and he is set to return at UFC 305, where he will challenge Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight title in Perth, Australia. During his break, he took two months off from training to focus on his mental health and reevaluate his dedication to the sport.
“I had no idea how long I’d be gone but I knew it wasn’t going to be until 2027,” he clarified. The time away has also prompted Adesanya to improve his diet, realizing he needed to prioritize his health as he approached his mid-30s. The fighter admitted to previously neglecting his nutrition, stating, “What I would do back in the day is I would wake up, go to the gym, train and then I’d have breakfast.”
Social media has recently showcased Adesanya’s impressive physical transformation, a reflection of his commitment to living like a professional athlete. As he prepares for his upcoming fight, he acknowledges that age has made it crucial for him to manage his lifestyle effectively to maintain peak performance.
Looking ahead, Adesanya hopes that the time off will help him reenergize as a competitor and reinvigorate his passion for MMA. His upcoming match against Du Plessis is particularly significant as it marks the historic first UFC event headlined by two African-born fighters competing for a title. Adesanya is motivated not only by his opponent but by the desire to honor the African champions who came before him.
With a renewed mindset and a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, Adesanya is eager to showcase the evolution of his fighting style. “I’m done with fighting like that,” he stated, expressing a desire to pace himself moving forward in his career. “This feels like my first time [in the UFC] all over again,” he concluded, ready to reclaim his place in the octagon.