Kamaru Usman doesn’t doubt Israel Adesanya’s talent. What worries him is the mental side of the game.
This past Saturday at UFC Seattle, Adesanya fell to Joe Pyfer in the main event, marking his fourth consecutive loss. Like in his previous defeats, Adesanya started fast—showcasing the precision and timing that made him a champion but faded as the fight went on, ultimately succumbing to Pyfer’s power.
In the aftermath, fans and analysts immediately questioned whether “The Last Stylebender” should consider retirement. Adesanya insists he’s not going anywhere yet, and Usman agrees—if he can get his mind back in the right place.
“I’m a fan of Israel’s, and I see it as a spectator,” Usman said on his Pound-4-Pound podcast. “But I also see it as a fighter who’s been in this situation. God, it’s tough, because he still has it. You can see it. He can still twitch you, land, and chop you up. But when you’re in this position, it’s almost impossible not to doubt yourself.
“When you’re on the rise, you don’t have time to doubt yourself. You’re young, hungry, and going fight to fight. You just win, win, win. You’ve got that chip on your shoulder. But when you’ve reached the top and start sliding down, self-doubt sets in. ‘Do I still have it? Can I still do it? Am I still that good?’ That’s when you have to anchor yourself and reverse the slide.”
Usman believes Adesanya’s brilliance is still visible—he just needs to reconnect with his mental game.
“That’s why, when the fight starts, Izzy shows flashes of genius. He switches stances, lands sharp kicks, sets up combinations—he can still dominate. But when the resistance hits, especially from a guy like Pyfer, and he starts taking heavy shots, can he stick to the game plan, use his fight IQ, and rebuild momentum? That’s where we’re seeing trouble. And that’s the real battle right now.”
Having walked a similar path, Usman knows the struggle intimately. Both he and Adesanya had five UFC title defenses, with overlapping reigns, and both went through extended losing streaks after dropping their belts.
Usman himself suffered three straight losses before rebounding last year with a decisive win over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta. He understands the pressure, the doubt, and the mental recalibration needed to climb back.
“It’s small, precise things in a fight,” Usman said. “You see him measure, adjust, target an inch off with a knee—just a tiny margin, and the fight’s over. The skill is still there. But when you’re facing a powerful opponent, and the strikes start landing, can you stay anchored? Can you reset mentally, stick to your strategy, and execute? That’s the challenge.
“The only person who can answer that is Izzy. He has the skills. He’s still sharp. He can still put combinations together. But he has to find that mental reset.”
For Usman, it’s simple: the talent is undeniable, the tools are intact, but the mind must catch up. And until Adesanya solves that puzzle, even the most lethal strikes aren’t enough to secure a win.
