Recent Status and Last Bout
Israel "The Last Stylebender" Adesanya is currently not holding any UFC titles. His most recent fight was at UFC 293 on September 10, 2023, where he lost the UFC Middleweight Championship to Sean Strickland via unanimous decision in a significant upset.
Post-Fight Hiatus and Return Talk
Following his loss to Strickland, Adesanya announced he would be taking an extended break from MMA competition. While initial comments suggested a lengthy period away, potentially until 2027, he has more recently indicated that his return could be sooner than initially implied. He has stated he is "healing up" and has been seen training, fueling speculation about his next steps.
Training and Future Prospects
Adesanya has been actively training, as evidenced by social media posts from himself and his team at City Kickboxing. While no specific fight has been announced, potential future scenarios include:
- A rematch against Sean Strickland for the middleweight title, should Strickland still be champion.
- A highly anticipated bout against current UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis, a fight with a pre-existing narrative.
- Other matchups against top contenders in the middleweight division.
As of now, official news regarding Adesanya's next fight or a specific return date is awaited. His coach, Eugene Bareman, has suggested that Adesanya is rejuvenated and a return in 2024 is possible, targeting a significant event.
