Four straight losses, rising damage, and Father Time closing in – is it finally the end for New Zealand’s UFC great?
“I’m not fucking leaving,” said two-time former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya following his defeat to Joe Pyfer on the weekend.
Adesanya channelled his inner Jordan Belfort in response to the query from UFC commentator Daniel Cormier in his post-fight interview. Cormier questioned Adesanya about how the 36-year-old “keeps moving forward” following the defeat – effectively asking Adesanya if he was considering stepping back from fighting in the octagon. Defiant as ever, Adesanya responded that he will keep going, quoting his late City Kickboxing team mate Jamie van der Kuijl: “I might get beaten, but I’ll always remain undefeated.”
As one of the country’s most successful combat sports athletes of all time and a bonafide UFC icon, few would argue that Adesanya hasn’t cemented his legacy as one of the best ever. However, with this loss marking four in a row for Adesanya, questions are beginning to loom about whether it’s time for him to put down the gloves.
At his prime, Adesanya was a pure fighting spectacle. He was nearly untouchable – able to effortlessly avoid punches and seamlessly counter in one fluid motion. He truly embodied his nickname as “The Last Stylebender”, combining his prowess in kickboxing, boxing, jiu-jitsu and other disciplines to overwhelm opponents on his way to victory.
Adesanya first appeared on the radar of New Zealand fight fans in 2014, when he took out the King in the Ring tournament in emphatic fashion. He would go on to win two more King in the Ring tournaments before eventually entering the UFC in 2018. After five consecutive victories, Adesanya won a maiden title over Kevin Gastelum in April 2019, aged 29 years old. The victory saw him become the first UFC champion fighting out of New Zealand. It was a proud moment for our small island nation, and for Adesanya’s native Nigeria.
Winning the title put City Kickboxing – the Auckland gym where Adesanya trained – on the world map. Several high-level UFC fighters have since trained there, including current featherweight champion and future UFC hall of famer Alexander Volkanovski and Carlos Ulberg, who will be fighting for the interim light-heavyweight next month.
Seven years on, Adesanya will be turning 37 years old in July. In a league where the average age is 30, he is well into his twilight years as a competitive fighter. Despite this, Adesanya still showed glimpses of his prime in the first round of his fight against Pyfer on the weekend.
Adesanya’s skilful striking damaged Pyfer’s lead leg in the first round and his elite takedown defence was also on display. However, Adesanya appeared to abandon his gameplan halfway through the second round, instead choosing to brawl with Pyfer. He was subsequently taken down and never recovered against the 29-year-old, succumbing to a technical knockout defeat with 30 seconds left in the round.
When questioned by Cormier about why he changed his fight plan, Adesanya said it had been 18 months since he last fought and that he wanted to “feel like I had been in a fight”. That’s an understandable position for a man who has trod the path Adesanya has.
Adesanya has spent the last 16 years of his life in the ring. The prospect of having to leave that behind can’t be easy. However, it’s something Adesanya will likely be considering, as will those around him.
Adesanya was a strong favourite heading into the fight against Pyfer, who was ranked at 14 in the middleweight division. While it was the biggest fight of Pyfer’s life, it was also a prime comeback opportunity for Adesanya, who had failed to claim a win since losing his title to Sean Strickland in September 2023. Since then, Adesanya has lost by stoppage to Dricus Du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov, and Pyfer.
While there’s no chance of Adesanya losing his future spot in the UFC Hall of Fame, there are undeniable physical risks associated with him continuing to fight and suffer damage to his body. Over the course of his last four fights, Adesanya has absorbed almost 300 significant strikes. As he ages, his ability to evade and block strikes will continue to diminish, making him more vulnerable to increasing amounts of damage. Adesanya will be acutely aware of this.
Despite the loss against Pyfer dropping Adesanya out of the middleweight rankings, his stock as a UFC star remains, thanks in large to his outspokenness and flamboyance. With the rise in popularity of the UFC, the production has become less about fighting and more about entertainment and personalities. Adesanya is full of personality.
However, Adesanya will be under no illusion that Father Time is against him. As his career begins to wind down, the question of legacy will be weighing heavily on his mind. He’s an avid fan of anime, and has often spoken about his story arc. While this chapter of his story may be drawing to an end, it will undoubtedly be remembered for generations to come.
No one remembers Muhammad Ali for losing three of his last four fights – they remember him as the best boxer of all time. Fight fans will remember Adesanya as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.
With young prospects like Navajo Stirling coming through the ranks, and the likes of Ulberg fighting for the light heavyweight title, the future of mixed martial arts in New Zealand is stronger than ever. Adesanya has undeniably inspired a generation of fighters not just in Aotearoa, but around the world. That will be his lasting legacy, regardless of what happens next.
