Israel Adesanya faces a whole lot of unknowns when he competes in the primary occasion on the UFC Saudi Arabia occasion on Saturday.
For the primary time in his profession, the previous middleweight champion is returning to motion off two straight losses after falling to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis in consecutive fights. Whereas he’s clearly competed in non-title fights earlier than, it’s been 5 years since Adesanya set foot within the octagon with out a UFC championship going up for grabs and that was additionally the final time he fought on a non pay-per-view occasion.
That narrative might drive the dialog forward of his upcoming battle in opposition to Nassourdine Imavov however don’t anticipate Adesanya to method this matchup any otherwise a lot much less being obsessive about making an attempt to keep away from a 3rd straight loss.
“I’m not considering like that,” Adesanya instructed MMA Preventing on behalf of Stake.com. “I’m simply stepping into there able to dominate. I’m not considering I don’t need one other loss. That’s a bizarre solution to body it as a result of I’m simply considering of what I don’t need. I’m in that frequency.
“No, I’ve not been considering that. I’m simply going to go in there and do what I do, do my greatest. I do know what I’m once I’m at my greatest.”
Adesanya can’t say he’s ever fought with the concept he can’t afford to lose dancing round his head however he keenly remembers being in a must-win scenario.
That got here again in 2023 when Adesanya confronted longtime rival Alex Pereira in a rematch after he misplaced his middleweight title and fell to the Brazilian for a 3rd time after two earlier losses in kickboxing matches.
“After I fought Alex in Miami I had that ‘I’ve to win’ [mindset],” Adesanya mentioned. “I wasn’t saying I can’t lose. I used to be saying I’ve to win.
“Once more, it’s a flip since you’re tapping into that. ‘Oh I can’t lose, I can’t lose. Your mind simply acknowledges ‘lose, lose, lose.’ So once I fought Alex for the f*cking fourth time, I used to be simply telling myself I’ve to win. I’ve to win. I used to be like win. Win. It’s only a completely different manner of issues.”
The top consequence? Adesanya scored a vicious second spherical knockout to reclaim the title and exorcise the demon that Pereira had change into in his profession.
This time round, the 35-year-old veteran isn’t placing any additional stress on himself as he prepares to face Imavov in Saudi Arabia. He acknowledges like several battle there’s going to be some expectations he places on himself however Adesanya vows that no outdoors forces are going to have an effect on the best way he performs.
“There’s not likely stress,” Adesanya mentioned. “I put stress on myself once I get on the market or once I get out to Saudi Arabia however when it comes right down to the battle itself, I don’t really feel an excessive amount of stress. As a result of there’s no belt on the road however in the identical breath, it looks like a title battle since you’re combating me and it’s 5 rounds. I nonetheless practice for 5 rounds. Probably not a lot has modified in that facet.”
On the subject of the title, Adesanya by no means looks like he’s too far-off from that risk, particularly with du Plessis and Strickland about to face off in a rematch only one week after he faces Imavov.
As a result of Adesanya established himself as one of many biggest middleweights within the historical past of the game, his sheer existence within the UFC goes to maintain him in that dialog however don’t anticipate him to be the one to start out these talks once more.
“Similar as I’ve at all times had, I by no means actually chased the belt,” Adesanya mentioned. “I at all times knew it might come round. I knew what I used to be going to do within the sport. I knew it was going to return round.
“Once more now, I simply plan on hold profitable and it’ll circle again. I’m not chasing the belt. However the belt chases me.”
There are quite a few examples prior to now the place champions misplaced the title and by no means fairly bought again to that very same stage once more. Look no additional than the middleweight division to see how that’s occurred a number of instances.
Robert Whittaker dominated as champion, misplaced the belt to Adesanya and by no means bought it again once more. Luke Rockhold misplaced the title to Michael Bisping and he by no means tasted UFC gold once more. The identical goes for Chris Weidman, who fell to Rockhold after which confronted a rollercoaster experience of the remainder of his UFC profession however he by no means bought again to a title battle once more.
Adesanya isn’t permitting the previous or the longer term devour him as a result of he simply needs to exit, carry out at his greatest and have enjoyable whereas doing it. The title isn’t on his thoughts however Adesanya is aware of he’s not going to permit Imavov to make a reputation off him and that may be the one actual motivation he wants.
“After I was developing, I had guys who have been on the high that I needed to battle to get my probability,” Adesanya defined. “They gave me my shot. Now I’m at this level in my profession to provide him an opportunity. He will get to battle Israel Adesanya and it’s the most important battle of his life.
“Can he rise to the event? We’re but to search out out. My job is to verify he doesn’t. He’s a very good fighter. He’s slick. He mixes his grappling along with his hanging properly. He’s bought all proper footwork. That is completely different. Once you get in there with me it’s loads completely different. The second can get to some folks. I don’t know if it is going to get to him earlier than I do.”
