South Africa's Dricus du Plessis takes a punch from New Zealand's Israel Adesanya during their middlweight championship fight last Sunday South Africa's Dricus du Plessis takes a punch from New Zealand's Israel Adesanya during their middlweight championship fight last Sunday. Photo: Colin Murty/AFP
Nigerian-born Israel Adesanya has dismissed retirement talks after losing to middleweight division champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth on Sunday.
The two-time middleweight division champion was submitted by du Plessis in the fourth round, marking his second consecutive loss after being defeated by Sean Strickland in September last year.
The result on Sunday also meant Adesanya had lost three of his last four fights.
Following the loss, critics on social media weighed in and suggested that “The Last Stylebender” should consider retiring from the sport.
Adesanya, who is currently among the highest-paid fighters in the UFC, however, was quick to reject the call for his retirement stating that he was not leaving until he wanted to.
Israel Adesanya explains that taking his gloves off after #UFC305 was "nothing about retirement." pic.twitter.com/nCqhSky5NJ
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) August 18, 2024
“I try and take each fight and each moment as if it were my last. I only took the gloves because they were tight, but no there's nothing about retiring no. I'm not fu****ng leaving, I'm not fu****ng leaving until I want to leave,” Adesanya said to the media after the defeat.
However, while Adesanya has remained defiant after the loss and making it clear that he was yet retiring, former UFC fighter Michael Bisping has also cast doubt about the New Zealander’s future prospects.
"He lost the fight and we have to ask the question, ‘is Izzy done? Are his championship days over?’ The answer to that is more than likely. It's a tough reality fight sports is a bi***ch.” Bisping said on YouTube.
Adesanya is widely regarded as one of the greatest middleweights of all time.
IOL Sport
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