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Israel Adesanya issues chilling warning to UFC rivals ahead of return: ‘When I come back, run for the hills”

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has urged his divisional peers to “run for the hills” when he returns to the Octagon – planning a definite hiatus from the UFC following his championship defeat last month.

Adesanya,…

Israel Adesanya issues chilling warning UFC when I come back run for the hills

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, has been sidelined from the Octagon since headlining UFC 293 back in September, suffering a unanimous decision loss to massive underdog, Sean Strickland in the Octagon’s return to Sydney, Australia.

Linked with an immediate title fight return against the outspoken Covina native, Adesanya is set to be passed over, however, with UFC CEO, Dana White confirming how incoming UFC 294 co-headliners, Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman will battle to determine the next title challenger to Strickland’s throne next weekend in the Middle East.

Despite being initially pegged to fight Strickland in his comeback, City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya has instead confirmed his plans to take an extended hiatus away from combat sports competition, insisting it will be a long time before fans can see him compete once again under the UFC banner.

“Now I’m gonna take time to look after myself,” Israel Adesanya told The Rock podcast during a recent appearance. “And, I’m not gonna fight for a long time. I’m definitely not gonna retire, ‘cause, you know me, I’m not leaving like that. But, if I did [retire], I’m fine. I don’t need to prove anything else. But, I know what I can do, I know what I can change in my lifestyle, to make my body adapt to where I need to be.”

Israel Adesanya issues stark warning to UFC rivals

And when he does return to the Octagon, the Nigerian-Kiwi striker has claimed opponents of his would be wise to avoid a matchup, encouraging them to “run for the hills” when he makes a return.

“I’m just gonna take my time (and), heal,” Israel Adesanya explained. “And then, when I come back, f*cking run for the hills.”

Who would you like to see Israel Adesanya fight in his UFC comeback?

Israel Adesanya shuts down retirement talk, plans lenghty UFC hiatus: ‘I’m not gonna fight for a long time’

Former two-time undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has admitted that while he’s aware he seems to be on the “back-end” of his professional career, he has no plans to call time on his illustrious career, but intends to take a definite and lengthy hiatus from active competition. Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, […]

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, most recently headlined UFC 293 last month in Syndey, Australia, suffering his second championship fight loss in the space of 11 months – in the form of a shocking unanimous decision loss to significant underdog, Sean Strickland.

And yet to book his return to the Octagon in the time since, City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya, who faces a court appearance in January in the wake of an alleged drunk driving incident in Auckland – three weeks prior to his championship fight with Strickland, has been backed to avenge a loss to the former in his return to the sport.

Expected to miss out on an immediate rematch with Strickland, however, Adesanya will lay in wait as UFC 294 co-headliners, Khamzat Chimaev and former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman have been backed by UFC leader, Dana White to land a title fight with a win in Abu Dhabi.

Israel Adesanya confirms plans for lengthy layoff from the UFC after title loss

And whilst maintaining he would not be calling time on his storied mixed martial arts career off the back of his loss to Strickland, Adesanya revealed he plans to take a long hiatus away from the Octagon off the back of his UFC 293 title fight defeat.

Do you think Israel Adesanya should take time away from the Octagon?

Sean Strickland no longer finds joy in making fun of Israel Adesanya: ‘The guy needs some help’

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland no longer takes joy in making fun of Israel Adesanya. During their appearances at the UFC 293 press event ahead of their world title clash in The Land Down Under, Sean Strickland repeatedly referenced a viral video of ‘The Last Stylebender’ inappropriately touching his dog on social media and accused […]

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland no longer takes joy in making fun of Israel Adesanya.

During their appearances at the UFC 293 press event ahead of their world title clash in The Land Down Under, Sean Strickland repeatedly referenced a viral video of ‘The Last Stylebender’ inappropriately touching his dog on social media and accused the two-time titleholder of producing “puppy porn” in his spare time.

The comments left Adesanya fuming and he made it a point to address the situation with Strickland after the clock had ran out on their world title tilt.

“He looks at me and he’s like, ‘I would never make fun of your family’ and I’m like, ‘Dude, I don’t know your family. I don’t know if you have siblings. I don’t know f*ck about you.’ This is after the fight,” Strickland said in a video on his YouTube channel. “He starts pointing at his neck and he’s like, ‘My dog, man. My f*cking dog.’”

Sean Strickland reveals details from his "strange" in-cage conversation with Israel Adesanya after #UFC293

"I think he was mad that I made fun of his dog… Izzy, I'm sorry I made fun of your dog. I'm sure he's a great fella." pic.twitter.com/DnJpoReii4

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) September 10, 2023

A month removed from his world-title-winning performance, Sean Strickland is still admittedly confused by the interaction and no longer feels comfortable making fun of Adesanya, suggesting that the ‘Stylebender’ may be suffering from some kind of mental illness.

“Bottom line, I think the guy needs some help, man,” Strickland continued. “You know when I was making fun of Khalil Rountree and then I had my epiphany like, he’s not just a beta male feminist. I realized that he might be a little mentally retarded. So that’s why I don’t make fun of him because it’s not funny anymore because now he has a f*cking problem. Now it’s like I’m making fun of a retard.

“But with Izzy, it’s starting to not be funny anymore because as I’m starting to understand Izzy and I’m starting to understand his love for his dog, peanut butter, and all, I’m starting to realize that he could have a form of mental retardation. There’s something f*cking wrong with this guy. So now, I kind of feel bad like I’m picking on the retarded kid at school that eats his boogers. It’s not funny anymore. It’s still a little funny, but…”

Robert Whittaker unsurprised by fans goading Israel Adesanya after UFC 293 loss: ‘He rubs people the wrong way’

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker has claimed he is unshocked by fan reaction to Israel Adesanya’s championship loss against Sean Strickland at the beginning of last month at UFC 293 – claiming the City Kickboxing striker has a knack of rubbing fans and the public the wrong way. Whittaker, the current number three ranked […]

Whittaker, the current number three ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured on the main card of UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week, suffering a second round TKO loss to South African finisher, Dricus du Plessis.

The defeat came as Whittaker’s third at the middleweight limit since his divisional move, following a prior pair of knockout and decision losses to the above-mentioned, Adesanya in the pair’s championship clashes.

Robert Whittaker claims Israel Adesanya rubs people the wrong way

And sharing his thoughts on fan’s appraisal of Strickland rather than Adesanya at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia over the course of their fight week festivities last month, Whittaker claimed he was wholly unsurprised.

“No, I would’ve been surprised the other way,” Robert Whittaker told MMA Fighting. “I don’t know – and everybody knows I’m not friends with Izzy (Israel Adesanya). I don’t hate the guy, but I’m not friends with him by any means. We just rub each other the wrong way. And he seems to rub a lot of people the wrong way. And I’m going to say, Sean (Strickland), you know, he was wearing the [Crocodile Dundee] hat. He was wearing the hat, that’s something – maybe that’s all it takes.”

“Everyone has done silly things, you know?” Robert Whittaker explained. “I guess Sean’s been, it hink, very offensive to a lot people right? But not to us [Australians] yet. Maybe we’ve been out of the crosshairs a little bit, so maybe that played a role. But another thing is, like, the fans and the guys that showed up on Sunday, they like seeing hard fights and they like seeing good fights. Sean went out there and gave his all and had one of the biggest upsets in the middleweight division.” (Transcribed by BJPENN.com)

Do you agree with Robert Whittaker’s thoughts on Israel Adesanya?

Israel Adesanya tipped to recover from latest UFC title loss in Sean Strickland rematch: ‘He’s seen everything’

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has been backed to likely prevail in the future – particularly in a mooted title rematch with Sean Strickland immediately, with head coach Eugene Bareman claiming his student has “seen everything” in terms of different styles and gameplan. Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, headlined UFC 293 […]

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, headlined UFC 293 earlier this month in Sydney, Australia – suffering a massive upset championship loss to the above-mentioned, Strickland, over the course of their five round main event championship bout.

Dropping his undisputed middleweight crown in stunning fashion, Israel Adesanya became the first titleholder in UFC history to lose his championship twice in the space of a year – having dropped the middleweight title to arch-rival, Alex Pereira back in November at Madison Square Garden.

And also suffering his first official knockdown in the opening round of his pairing with the above-mentioned, Strickland in Australia, Adesanya’s coach, Bareman claimed his student likely suffered his loss as a direct result of a “concussion” in the first frame.

“I thought he (Israel Adesanya) did really well with the knockdown and coming back from it but I have no doubt that anybody who’s actually had a fight and knows when you suffer a concussion and get knocked down like that, things happen,” Bareman told Combat TV.”

“Over the whole duration of the fight, you just don’t know what the knockdown does,” Bareman continued. “Has it slowed your reactions down, has it slowed your mental processing down? The knockdown – or the concussion, they can do a myriad of things so I have no doubt that that would have some effect and which is what it’s meant to do.”

Eugene Bareman confident of future UFC success for Israel Adesanya

Widely expected to make a return to the Octagon in an immediate title rematch with Strickland, Adesanya has been touted as ready for any tactical change or gameplan alteration by his head coach.

“No one else has these sorts of athletes because no one else has done the extensive work that we’ve done outside of MMA to gain this type of high-level experience,” Bareman explained. “This is an athlete who’s seen everything, who’s had every type of game plan imposed on him, and every sort of adjustment, every sort of look he’s had in front of him.”

“Sean (Strickland) brought something unique, and it was his awkwardness, and we thought we’d dealt with it,” Bareman continued. “We have to do a better job at dealing with the style that he defends in and some of the intricacies he brings to the table. But, Israel’s seen everything. Not every athlete that gets to the UFC does – barely any of them do. None of them have 100 fights at the highest level.”

Can Israel Adesanya reclaim the middleweight title again?

UFC boss Dana White reacts to Israel Adesanya ‘Mistake’ drunk driving incident: ‘Hopefully he never does it again’

Reacting to recent reports detailing a drunk driving incident involving former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, UFC CEO, Dana White has claimed that hopefully it’s “one-and-done” in that department for the ex-champion. Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight titleholder under the banner of the promotion, headlined UFC 293 earlier this month in Sydney, Australia – […]

Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight titleholder under the banner of the promotion, headlined UFC 293 earlier this month in Sydney, Australia – suffering a surprising unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland in a major upset judging loss.

However, just three weeks prior to that, City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya was charged with drink driving in Auckland Central, New Zealand – returning a blood test 37 millilires above the legal blood alcohol level in the country.

Set for a hearing in January of next year, Adesanya apologized to his community, family, and friends in relation to the incident, although faced severe backlash across social media after it emerged the incident in question occured just 23 days ahead of his title fight with Strickland.

Dana White describes Israel Adesanya’s DUI incident as a “mistake”

Reacting to Adesanya’s incident with the law, UFC boss, White claimed that it was a “mistake” from the former champion to drive after consuming alcohol, before expressing his hope that it never happens again.

“He (Israel Adesanya) made a bad decision,” Dana White told assembled media after the Contender Series. “Thank God nobody was hurt. Him or nobody else. You know what I say about mistakes: How do you handle them after you make them?”

“Hopefully, that’s a one-and-done for him (Israel Adesanya) and he never does it again,” White explained.

Yet to book his return to the Octagon in the weeks since, Adesanya, who described the pairing with Strickland as a “bad dream”, has been lined up to fight the outspoken Covina native in his return, as part of an immediate championship rematch.

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