The future of former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has been uncertain since his recent loss to Nassourdine Imavov. However, his head coach has given an encouraging update.
“The Last Stylebender” has experienced a series of losses and hasn`t publicly announced whether he will continue his fighting career. He attended UFC 314 to support his teammate Alexander Volkanovski. His coach, Eugene Bareman, mentioned a brief conversation they had in Miami.
Bareman shared with Submission Radio that Adesanya told him, “I think I’m going to fight again.” These conversations revolve around Adesanya`s desire and hunger to compete again.
The coach explained that they are discussing if Adesanya should fight again, focusing on his internal motivation rather than specific opponents.
After successfully defending his title six times, Adesanya lost the middleweight belt to Alex Pereira in 2022, but regained it in a memorable knockout victory five months later.
Since then, Adesanya has suffered decision and stoppage losses to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and Imavov, despite strong starts in those fights.
Bareman believes Adesanya is not just a fighter, but someone who aims to reclaim his position as the best in the world. The question is whether Adesanya is willing to undertake that challenging journey again.
“I’m patient and supportive of whatever Izzy decides,” Bareman stated. He acknowledged Adesanya`s accomplishments in the sport but noted his recent losses. They both admire Volkanovski`s incredible work ethic and know the level of commitment required to reach the top.
Bareman emphasized that dedication outweighs age, referencing Volkanovski`s championship win. He sees Volkanovski`s commitment as the benchmark for Adesanya, highlighting the significant dedication required to compete at that level, especially later in a career.
