PERTH, Australia – Israel Adesanya has no intention of unnecessarily prolonging his career.
Adesanya (23-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC) made his UFC debut five years ago when he stopped 2022 PFL light heavyweight champion Rob Wilkinson in February 2018. He has since emerged as one of the biggest stars on the UFC roster as well as a middleweight great after defending his title five times.
While “The Stylebender” is very much in his prime, he doesn’t plan on dragging out his career.
“I’ve been in the UFC five years, right? If I’m being honest, I’m not gonna be here in five years,” Adesanya told reporters backstage at UFC 284. “I have other things to do in life.”
He continued, “I love this sh*t and I’m f*cking great at it but I never attach myself to this and I’m gonna leave on top. So yeah, that’s the best way I feel like you should leave. But again, I’ve been here five years in the UFC, (snaps fingers) it went like that. We’ll see how long I’m here for but I don’t think it’s gonna be five years.”
Adesanya will look to reclaim his middleweight title from Alex Pereira (7-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) when the pair headline UFC 287 on April 8 at Miami-Dade Arena in Miami.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.
