UFC fans experienced another heartbreak as Israel Adesanya suffered his third consecutive loss, this time against Nassourdine Imavov. Following ‘Izzy’s’ defeat, many fans began speculating that his career might be over and that he could retire. However, Adesanya has yet to make any statements regarding retirement. Despite this, former two-division champion Daniel Cormier believes ‘Izzy’ still has more fight left after his UFC Saudi Arabia loss.
Adesanya has long been a fan favorite, known for his quirky fighting style. However, fans were shocked by his loss last weekend, leaving many disappointed. Despite the setback, Daniel Cormier remains optimistic about Adesanya’s future in MMA. Reflecting on Adesanya’s performance during UFC Fight Night 250, Cormier emphasized that the former champion still has the skills to compete at a high level, especially after his strong showing in Round 1. On his YouTube channel, ‘DC,’ Cormier stated,
“I believe that Adesanya is done fighting for titles, but what I do not believe is that Adesanya is done as a fighter. What I saw in Round 1 was enough for me to believe that he could still compete. What I do believe, though, is that Israel Adesanya has earned the right to fight lesser competition right now but also less rounds.”
Cormier believes Adesanya’s next opponent should be someone who isn’t immediately gunning for a title, and he sees Imavov as a deserving contender for a future title shot. Cormier pointed out that there would be no surprise if, after Imavov’s victory, he earned a spot in the next middleweight championship bout. However, he also acknowledged the potential challenge posed by Khamzat Chimaev, who remains a top contender in the division.
Israel Adesanya Says Khamzat Chimaev’s Win Over Robert Whittaker Made Him Want to Fight
Adesanya recently expressed his desire to fight Khamzat Chimaev, citing Chimaev’s dominant victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 as the spark. After a string of losses, including a submission defeat to Dricus du Plessis and a knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov, Adesanya found himself in a new position. Reflecting on Chimaev’s performance in a YouTube video, Adesanya said,
“I was surprised [by] the way Khamzat ran through Rob [Robert Whittaker]. That was crazy. That made me want to fight him. I was like, ‘S*it! This guy is really really good.'”
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Adesanya’s back-to-back losses have raised concerns among fans about his future in the UFC. With uncertainty surrounding whether he’ll continue fighting, fans are eagerly awaiting his next move in the organization.
