Israel Adesanya isn’t done just yet, but he’s done fighting the same way. The former UFC middleweight champion has been away from the Octagon for nearly a year, last competing in February when Nassourdine Imavov stopped him via TKO at UFC Saudi Arabia. Since then, speculation around retirement has followed Israel Adesanya everywhere, but the longtime star says that narrative misses the point.
Adesanya plans to return in 2026, and when he does, fans shouldn’t expect the calculated, belt-protecting version of “The Last Stylebender.” He’s aiming for something far looser and far riskier.
“Whenever I’m out and about in Auckland, every day I always get the, ‘Oh, I hear you’re retired,’” Adesanya said during a Q&A session at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA. “I used to explain myself, but now I just let it slide.”
Despite losing four of his last five fights, Israel Adesanya has no interest in chasing validation through titles anymore. He’s already climbed that mountain, twice. What he wants now is freedom.
“For me, it’s not about belts anymore,” Adesanya explained. “I’ve got two shiny belts at home. They look good, but I just want to fight. I want to do things like I did on my way to the belt.”
That mindset shift could translate into a very different stylistic approach when he finally steps back into the cage. Adesanya says he wants to bring back the creativity and unpredictability that defined his early UFC run even if it means taking chances that don’t always work.
“I still fought really well when I was defending the belt,” he said. “But I want to fight more freely. I want to try risky shit like I used to. Remember the Brad Tavares fight? End of the first round, I went for a roll and it failed. I want to try shit like that again.”
A rumoured rematch with Sean Strickland briefly gained traction, but those plans fell apart after Strickland booked a fight against Anthony Hernandez. For now, Israel Adesanya’s return opponent remains unknown. What is clear, however, is his intention.
