Following his defeat to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305, Israel Adesanya has shared his thoughts on what lies ahead for him in his fighting career.
In the headline bout of UFC 305, Adesanya faced off against du Plessis in what turned out to be a gripping contest. Despite the fierce competition, it was du Plessis who emerged victorious. The South African fighter secured a submission win over Adesanya in the fourth round, adding another chapter to their ongoing rivalry.
With this loss marking his second consecutive defeat, speculation has begun about whether Adesanya might consider retiring from the sport. However, the fighter himself has addressed these rumors head-on. During the post-fight press conference, Adesanya made it clear that he is not contemplating retirement at this time.
UFC Star Israel Adesanya Will Not Retire Following UFC 305 Defeat to Dricus du Plessis
“For me, who knows what happens [next],” Adesanya said, reflecting on the uncertainty of life and career. “Again, life is fleeting, who knows what happens. He might never come back, if something happens to him. Any one of us in this room could go tomorrow. So, I try and take each fight, each moment as if it was my last.”
Adesanya clarified that his decision to remove his gloves was not a sign of retirement. He explained, “I only took my gloves off because it was tight. He’s got a strong head man, I hit him with some shots. So my hand was a bit, not broken, not even close, but just a little bit swollen.” He emphasized that the gesture was merely due to discomfort. “So, that’s why I took the gloves off, but nothing about retiring, no no no. I told you, I’m not fing leaving. I’m not fing leaving until I wanna leave.”
Adesanya’s statements indicate his commitment to continuing his career despite recent setbacks. As fans and analysts ponder what’s next for the former champion, the focus will likely be on how he plans to bounce back and what his future holds in the octagon.
What do you think should be the next step for Israel Adesanya? Do you think he will get back to title contention? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
