Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has announced that he plans to be out of mixed martial arts within five years, ahead of his rematch with Alex Pereira. The Nigerian star lost his title to his long‑time rival Pereira last year, marking the third defeat of his career. Now, “The Last Stylebender” faces the daunting task of overturning that loss in a bout scheduled for April 9 at UFC 287 in Miami.
Although the defeat was Adesanya’s first in the UFC’s middleweight division, he still has plenty to achieve if he can reclaim his crown later this year. The 33‑year‑old insists he wants to end his career on a high note and return to his status as the king of the division. “I’ve been in the UFC five years, right?” he said at a press conference in Australia while discussing the upcoming fight. “If I’m being honest, I’m not gonna be here in five years. I have other things to do in life. I love this sh*t and I’m fking great at it but I never attach myself to this and I’m gonna leave on top. So yeah, that’s the place where I feel like you should leave. But again, I’ve been here five years in the UFC… we’ll see how long I’m here for but I don’t think it’s gonna be five years.”
Adesanya has become a hugely popular figure in martial arts and is currently the UFC’s second‑highest‑paid fighter, behind friend Conor McGregor. He will be hoping for a successful revenge mission this time, having failed to overturn his two kickboxing defeats to the Brazilian after being stopped in the final round. The Nigerian‑born New Zealander holds a record of 23 wins and two losses.
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