Israel Adesanya is making one thing clear ahead of his comeback, he has no interest in the UFC’s most talked-about event.
The former middleweight champion returns this Saturday in the UFC Seattle main event against Joe Pyfer, marking his first fight in over a year. While the spotlight has been building around the upcoming White House card, Adesanya is not buying into the hype.
At his peak, Adesanya was one of the promotion’s biggest stars and an obvious candidate for a marquee event of that magnitude. But coming off a three-fight skid, the 36-year-old has taken a different stance.
“I was only interested because at the time, the world was different, but now with the way things are, it’s not really something I’m interested in,” Adesanya said. “Yeah, I won’t even go and watch it there, I’ll watch it from the comfort of my own house in New Zealand.”
Earlier this year, Adesanya left the door slightly open, saying he would consider the event if real MMA fans were in attendance. That condition no longer matters. As far as he’s concerned, the event does not appeal to him anymore.
Adesanya has consistently emphasized the importance of fighting in front of genuine fans, not a closed-off crowd filled with high-profile guests.
“I wouldn’t say no, but I hope there are some fans there. Like actual MMA fans,” Adesanya said previously. “I don’t really want to fight in front of a bunch of suits who don’t really care about MMA.”
His stance puts him in contrast with some of the buzz surrounding the card, which is expected to feature elite names, including former rival Alex Pereira.
He is not alone in his criticism. Veteran commentator Joe Rogan has also questioned the event, calling it a “gimmick” and raising concerns about security.
Still, the UFC appears fully committed. CEO Dana White has dismissed any doubts and continues to push forward with the event, which is being promoted as a historic moment for the sport.
For Adesanya, though, the focus remains simple. He is not chasing spectacle, he is chasing a reset.
After suffering a knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov in his last outing, Adesanya now turns his attention to Pyfer, aiming to snap his losing streak and rebuild momentum in the middleweight division.
