Israel Adesanya, the former UFC middleweight champion, has declared that he will be taking a hiatus from the octagon.
This decision comes approximately a month after he suffered a stunning upset loss, relinquishing his Middleweight belt to underdog Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia.
The defeat has been termed as one of the most significant upsets in MMA history.
The 34-year-old Nigerian-born Australian fighter has stated that his break from the UFC is essential for refocusing, reevaluating his lifestyle, and preparing for his future after enduring his third competitive loss in the UFC.
Adesanya acknowledged Strickland’s victory and refused to make excuses, saying,
“Strickland got me on the night because he was the better fighter on the night, and he did his work well. He had a good team behind him. Now I’m going to take time to look after myself.
“I’m not going to fight for a long time. I’m definitely not going to retire because that’s not me.”
He also mentioned that if he did decide to retire, he would be content with his accomplishments and doesn’t feel the need to prove anything further.
