29.3.2026
Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya said he is not about to retire from the sport despite four straight defeats.
Adesanya was pummeled into submission by Joe Pyfer in their bout in Seattle, USA on Saturday night. Adesanya had previously lost to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov. He has now been stopped three times in a row within the distance.
“You keep going. Again and again and again and again and again. I’m not f****** leaving.
“You’ll never stop me. I might get beat, but I’ll always remain undefeated,” Adesanya said after the fight.
The 36-year-old’s only win was back in 2023 against Alex Pereira, when he avenged a loss from five months earlier. He said he’s been off for 13 months and wanted to test his might in the bout against Pyfer.
Adesanya started off well in defence and landed some leg kicks.
But he was soon rocked by a left hook, a body shot and a right hand, with the referee then stepping in when he was thrown to the mat by Pyfer and struck from the back.
Pyfer praised Adesanya for his doggedness.
“Izzy is not the most powerful guy in the world, we know that, but he’s one of the highest fight IQ champions of all time.
“There’s nobody better. In my book, he’s the best middleweight of all time. I love you as a champion, love you as a person.”