Adesanya vows never to return from retirement after four straight losses

Israel Adesanya has promised he will never come out of retirement, declaring “once I’m done, I’m f*cking done” as he confronts the twilight of a career that made him one of the greatest middleweights in UFC history.

The two-time UFC middleweight champion is enduring the worst run of his professional life, having lost his last four fights — most recently to Joe Pyfer, Nassourdine Imavov, and Dricus du Plessis, all of whom stopped him inside the distance. At 37, with more than 16 years of professional combat sports behind him, Adesanya acknowledges that the end is approaching.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Adesanya said he is determined not to become another cautionary tale of a champion who cannot let go. “I’ve seen it in this game — the accolades, the spotlight. When they get done, they may come out of retirement because they don’t know what to do with themselves,” he said. “I never want to be that guy.”

Adesanya said the adrenaline he craves will be satisfied through other pursuits once he hangs up his gloves — running with the bulls and competing in the World Series of Poker among the ideas he floated — rather than through a return to the cage.

He also reflected on the professional sacrifices his fighting career has demanded, revealing he turned down roles in two major films during his prime in order to fulfil title defences. With a potential acting opportunity now being scheduled around his availability, Adesanya suggested he intends to compete only twice a year in the time he has left.

The Nigerian-New Zealander credited former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre as a guiding voice during this stage of his career. “He’s like my Fairy Godmother — he just pops up at the most random places and drops gems,” Adesanya said. “Not many have been to where we’ve been, so they can’t relate, and Georges can. When he tells me something, I listen. It holds weight.”

Adesanya’s legacy at 185 pounds is secure regardless of how his active career concludes. His two title reigns, his unification victories, and his stylistic influence on the division have already cemented his place among the sport’s elite. The question now is whether he can add one final chapter on his own terms before making good on his promise to leave the sport behind for good.