5 MINUTES AGO: ISRAEL ADESANYA OFFICIALLY Quits The UFC To Join The BOXING??

Israel Adesanya has finally broken his silence, and what he revealed has sent shockwaves through the MMA world.

During a recent Q&A session at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA in Thailand, the former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion made a statement that immediately sparked controversy and confusion across social media. Amid rumors, clickbait headlines, and speculation about him leaving the UFC, Adesanya made one thing very clear:

His career will end in the UFC.

At a time when many elite MMA fighters are leaving for massive boxing paydays—names like Anderson Silva, Francis Ngannou, Tyron Woodley, Nate Diaz, Jorge Masvidal, and Darren Till—Israel Adesanya is choosing a different path. For him, mixed martial arts is the ultimate form of combat.

Adesanya explained that MMA allows a fighter to use every weapon, every limb, every skill. As someone who has reached the very top of the sport, he questioned why he would walk away from that legacy just to box. His belief is simple: his story, his greatness, and his legacy are already written inside the UFC Octagon.

But then came the twist.

Adesanya admitted what many fighters won’t say out loud—everyone has a price. He revealed that he already knows his number, and it’s extremely high. So high, in fact, that he joked only someone with near-unlimited resources—like Saudi power broker Turki Alalshikh—could even consider meeting it. Even then, Adesanya made it clear: he still plans to finish his career in the UFC.

That’s a rare level of loyalty in modern combat sports.

However, this moment in Adesanya’s career comes at a crossroads. For the first time ever, he is on a three-fight losing streak. Losses to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and most recently a knockout defeat to Nassourdine Imavov have raised serious questions about his future.

When fans now ask him if he’s retired, Adesanya jokes and says yes—until they see him on a fight poster again.

And that’s where things get really interesting.

Israel Adesanya revealed a new mindset, one that could completely change how he fights going forward. He says it’s no longer about belts. He already has championship gold at home. What he wants now is freedom—freedom to fight creatively, to take risks, to do the things that made fans fall in love with “The Last Stylebender” in the first place.

This is the Adesanya who tried imanari rolls, question-mark kicks, and unpredictable setups. The artist. The innovator. The risk-taker.

With plans to return in 2026, Adesanya is no longer chasing status—he’s chasing expression. And that version of Izzy may be the most dangerous one yet.

He doesn’t need a title fight to make noise. Any matchup at middleweight instantly becomes must-watch TV. Whether this leads to another championship run or a legendary final chapter, one thing is clear:

Israel Adesanya isn’t done.
He isn’t leaving the UFC.
And he’s coming back with nothing to lose.

So what do YOU think?
Is this the start of one last legendary run for “The Last Stylebender”? Or is his best already behind him?

Drop your thoughts in the comments.
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