Adesanya opens up on retirement plans
Former UFC champion Israel Adesanya has opened up on his retirement plans, claiming that he will not change his mind when he decides to step away from fighting.
Adesanya has endured a disappointing run in his last four bouts, suffering defeats to Joe Pyfer, Nassourdine Imavov and Dricus du Plessis in stoppages, and a unanimous decision defeat to Sean Strickland in 2023.
Critics have been calling on him to retire following his disappointing showing in his previous bouts.
Adesanya responded in a video on his social media account, saying that he will not consider coming out of retirement when he hangs his gloves.
He said: “I have seen it in this game. The accolades, the spotlight. When they get done, they may come out of retirement because they do not know what to do with themselves. I never want to be that guy.
“Maybe I would want to do something that is risky, like run with the bulls. I might jump in the World Series of Poker. I love the adrenaline, but I guess people have a hard time leaving this life.”
Adesanya also credited former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre for guidance.
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He concluded: “When he tells me something, I listen. It holds weight. He is retired, and he has done it, clocked the game at the highest level.
“I do not need to be the guy who needs to fight.”
Adesanya made his professional debut in 2012, with a TKO win against James Griffiths.
He made his UFC debut in 2018 against Rob Wilkinson at UFC 221 in Perth, Australia.
He has won the UFC middleweight title twice, also earning stunning victories over well-known fighters like Anderson Silva, Robert Whittaker, Paulo Costa, and Alex Pereira.
Adesanya is currently ranked ninth in the Meta UFC middleweight rankings.
