Israel Adesanya News
Israel Adesanya responds to callout from UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis: “This arc in my story was written long ago”
Chris Taylor - January 21, 2024
Israel Adesanya has responded after being called out by newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. Du Plessis (21-2 MMA) got his first crack at UFC gold this evening in Toronto when he challenged Sean Strickland (28-6 MMA) for the promotion’s undisputed 185lbs title.
Joe Rogan dismisses idea Israel Adesanya underestimated Sean Strickland in title loss: "He's just that good"
Josh Evanoff - January 19, 2024
UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes that Sean Strickland is just that good ahead of his first middleweight title defense. ‘Tarzan’ is currently slated to make his first UFC title defense tomorrow night, in Toronto, Canada. In the pay-per-view main event, Sean Strickland will face the rising South African, Dricus du Plessis. ‘Stillknocks’ earned the title opportunity with a knockout win over Robert Whittaker last July.
Dricus Du Plessis reacts after “irrelevant” Israel Adesanya picks him to defeat Sean Strickland at UFC 297
Susan Cox - January 19, 2024
Dricus Du Plessis is reacting after ‘irrelevant’ Israel Adesanya picked him to defeat Sean Strickland at UFC 297. The former middleweight champion, Adesanya (24-3 MMA) weighed in on who he believes will come out the victor at UFC 297.
Sean Strickland responds after Israel Adesanya picks Dricus Du Plessis to win at UFC 297: "Shut your f*****g mouth"
Cole Shelton - January 18, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has responded to Israel Adesanya picking Dricus Du Plessis to beat him at UFC 297. Strickland is coming off a one-sided decision win over Adesanya in September to become the new middleweight champion. It was a shocking result, and ‘The Last Stylebender’ doesn’t see the American’s reign lasting long as he believes Du Plessis’ wrestling and grappling will be the difference.
Sean Strickland responds after being labeled a hypocrite by Israel Adesanya, Ian Garry and other UFC fighters: “Do you think I give a f**k?”
Susan Cox - January 18, 2024
Sean Strickland is responding after being labeled a hypocrite by Israel Adesanya, Ian Garry and other UFC fighters. Strickland, 32, is known for trash talking opponents (and others) leading up to or following fights. As of late, fighters, like ‘The Last Stylebender‘, have come forward saying that while he can easily hand out the trash talk, he can’t take it.
Dricus du Plessis reveals the “mistake” Israel Adesanya made in UFC 293 fight with Sean Strickland: “He just saw a guy that is not on his level”
Harry Kettle - January 18, 2024
UFC star Dricus du Plessis has explained the mistake he believes Israel Adesanya made against Sean Strickland. At UFC 293, Sean Strickland shocked the world. He defeated Israel Adesanya to claim the UFC middleweight championship, and he did so with relative ease. Now, just four months later, he has the chance to defend what he earned when he goes head to head with Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297.
Dricus Du Plessis says he’s open to fighting Israel Adesanya at UFC 300: “Give the fans what they want”
Josh Evanoff - January 17, 2024
If Dricus du Plessis wins the middleweight title on Saturday, he’s down to face Israel Adesanya at UFC 300 in April. ‘Stillknocks’ is currently set to face Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 297 this Saturday night. In the first title shot of his career, the South African will face the newly crowned champion, Sean Strickland. ‘Tarzan’ famously captured the title last September, with a unanimous decision win over Israel Adesanya.
Israel Adesanya takes aim at Sean Strickland for getting “triggered” over trash talk from Dricus Du Plessis
Susan Cox - January 17, 2024
Israel Adesanya has taken aim at Sean Strickland for getting ‘triggered’ over the trash talk from Dricus Du Plessis. UFC 297 is taking place on Saturday, January 20th at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Israel Adesanya shares timeline for UFC return after suffering an undisclosed injury
Susan Cox - January 11, 2024
Israel Adesanya is sharing a timeline for his UFC return after suffering an undisclosed injury. The former middleweight champion, Adesanya (24-3 MMA) last fought and was defeated by Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA) last September at UFC 293.
Israel Adesanya avoids conviction for drunk driving charge, but receives fine among other penalties
Cole Shelton - January 10, 2024
Israel Adesanya avoided conviction for his drunk driving charge in New Zealand. Adesanya was charged on August 19 for drunk driving as he was operating a car with 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, which is over the legal limit of 50 milligrams. The maximum penalty for the drunk driving charge is a term of imprisonment of three months or a fine of $4500. The incident happened just weeks before his title defense against Sean Strickland which he lost by decision.
Israel Adesanya admits he's on “the back end" of his career, focused on "quality" fights not quantity in 2024
Cole Shelton - January 9, 2024
Israel Adesanya knows he’s on the back nine of his fighting career. Adesanya is currently 34 years old and has been a pro-MMA fighter since 2012, but has competed in kickboxing for much longer. With over a decade as a pro fighter, Adesanya has put his body through a ton, and after his lopsided decision loss to Sean Strickland to lose his middleweight title, he said he would be taking a breaak from fighting.
Israel Adesanya opens up on decision to take UFC hiatus: "I missed the beast"
Josh Evanoff - January 8, 2024
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya felt that he badly needed time off after his last fight. ‘The Last Stylebender’ has been out of the octagon since a clash with Sean Strickland last September. Fighting in Australia in the main event of UFC 293, Israel Adesanya approached the title defense as any other. The normally-active middleweight had famously re-captured the title from Alex Pereira just months prior, by knockout.
Israel Adesanya vs. Alex Pereira 3 rumors swirl after ‘Stylebender’ shares photo of his updated physique
Harry Kettle - January 5, 2024
The rumor mill is in full swing after UFC star Israel Adesanya posted a photo of his new physique on social media. Following his loss to Sean Strickland, Israel Adesanya made it clear that he planned on taking some time off. He’d been one of the most active champions in mixed martial arts, and at the age of 34, it made sense for him to give his body a break. Either way, regardless of whether you love him or hate him, the UFC is a better place with Israel Adesanya being a consistent presence.
Chael Sonnen reveals Israel Adesanya's return fight at UFC 300
Cole Shelton - December 28, 2023
Chael Sonnen believes he knows who and when Israel Adesanya will be making his return to the Octagon. Adesanya hasn’t fought since September when he suffered a lopsided decision loss to Sean Strickland to lose his middleweight title. Since then, Adesanya jokingly said he wouldn’t return until 2027, which he has walked back on and claimed he will be back sooner rather than later.
Israel Adesanya reveals he will make his UFC return "soon"
Harry Kettle - December 23, 2023
UFC star Israel Adesanya has revealed that he will soon make his return to the Octagon after previously claiming he’ll be out for years. At UFC 293 in September, Israel Adesanya fell to a lop-sided defeat against Sean Strickland. In the process, he lost his UFC middleweight championship. ‘Stylebender’ made it clear in the aftermath that he wanted to take some time off, and at one point, he even suggested that his hiatus could last until 2027.
Israel Adesanya trolls Alex Pereira with Mortal Kombat themed UFC 287 knockout video
Susan Cox - December 21, 2023
Israel Adesanya has trolled Alex Pereira with a Mortal Kombat themed video of his UFC 287 knockout win. Adesanya and Pereira have a long-standing rivalry with one another.
Israel Adesanya teases fans with UFC 298 title fight against Alex Pereira
Susan Cox - November 24, 2023
Israel Adesanya teased fight fans on Thursday with a UFC 298 title bout against Alex Pereira. UFC 298 will take place on February 17th of 2024 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Dricus Du Plessis says Israel Adesanya “deserves” some time off, but advises against a lengthy hiatus
Susan Cox - November 17, 2023
Dricus Du Plessis says Israel Adesanya ‘deserves’ some time off, but advises against a lengthy hiatus. Israel Adesanya (24-3 MMA), a former two-time middleweight champion, suffered his third career loss this past September at UF 293 when Sean Strickland (28-5 MMA) defeated him by unanimous decision. Strickland emerged as the new UFC middleweight champion.