Israel Adesanya is approaching the final chapter of one of the most decorated careers in UFC history. As the former two-time middleweight champion prepares for his return at UFC Seattle on March 28, he has offered a reality check regarding his future in the octagon.
Adesanya, who is looking to snap a three-fight losing streak, admitted on hisYouTube channel that the countdown clock is ticking loudly. “I can see the finish line,” the 36-year-old stated. “I’ve been seeing the finish line in the distance, but now it’s closer.”
Specifics regarding his exit plan are being kept close to the vest. When asked how many battles he has left, Adesanya put a hard cap on the number. “Less than 10,” he stated definitively. “I know it’s less than 10. It can’t be more than 10.” He outlined a potential schedule that sees him fighting twice a year, which would seemingly wrap up his career by 2027.
“2028 is going to be like, I don’t know yet. I can’t see past 2027,” he added. This timeline places pressure on his upcoming main event against Joe Pyfer, as a fourth consecutive loss could accelerate those retirement plans in a major way and for good reason.
Adesanya was set to fight De Ridder in 2025?
“The Last Stylebender” also dropped a bombshell regarding a fight that never materialized late last year. Adesanya revealed that he was deep into negotiations to step in on short notice at UFC Vancouver in October 2025. The opponent would have been former ONE Championship king Reinier de Ridder, who was left without a dance partner when Anthony Hernandez withdrew from the main event.
“I was going to fight last year, but then I got injured in the gym, and then that opportunity got taken away,” Adesanya explained. The prospect of facing a grappler like de Ridder on just five or six weeks’ notice excited Adesanya, offering a new challenge he had never experienced in his UFC tenure. Ultimately, fate came knocking. The gym injury forced Adesanya to the sidelines, and Brendan Allen eventually stepped in to face de Ridder.
While Adesanya was initially frustrated by the missed opportunity, he now views the cancellation as a blessing in disguise. “That moment got taken away from me, but that’s, in hindsight, the best thing even though I wasn’t happy with it then,” he reflected. The extra time off allowed him to fully recover from the knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov in Saudi Arabia last February.
