Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is currently experiencing a steep decline in his career. Once regarded as the king of the 185lbs division, Adesanya now holds a 1-4 record in his last five Octagon appearances. Despite this downturn, Adesanya has long maintained a reputation akin to ‘Randy Couture’ in the eyes of fans—clean, disciplined, and free from any allegations of cheating, PED usage, or weight-cutting issues.

Throughout his career, people have known him for strictly adhering to the rules and for his integrity within the sport. However, that flawless image may now be facing its first real challenge. Recently, Yoel Romero revealed what he believes were questionable tactics used by Adesanya during their UFC 248 middleweight title fight. Speaking on his latest appearance on the OverDogs podcast, ‘Soldier of God’ accused the former champ of oiling up before their fight.

Recalling the opening round—where he landed a solid shot on Israel Adesanya—Romero clarified that the punch wasn’t thrown with knockout intentions. Offering his take on the moment, he said, “It was just to know where he was—bang, I touched him to know where he is. The next one… but I never saw him again. He moved throughout the whole fight. He was running. I was standing still, in the middle, in the middle, so he could come. And when he’d see me coming to strike, he’d run away again.”

The Cuban export then escalated the conversation with a serious accusation, suggesting Izzy’s elusive movement might’ve been aided by more than just footwork. “In fact, he had oil—oil on him. One time I grabbed him, but he slipped away. He was slippery. He had something on him that made him slippery,” Yoel Romero claimed.

What was meant to be a slugfest between two of the best strikers at 185lbs, their five-round showdown at UFC 248 didn’t live up to expectations for most fans. The fight lacked high-stakes action or defining moments, as both fighters remained cautious throughout. It resembled a strategic chess match more than an all-out war, with neither man taking many risks. The Kiwi-Nigerian walked away with the decision victory, but the real showstopper that night came in the co-main event—an unforgettable strawweight clash between Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, which is still regarded as one of the greatest fights in UFC history.

Interestingly, the greasing controversy has recently resurfaced. Just last month, Magomed Ankalaev’s team made similar claims against Alex Pereira, alleging the use of an oily substance during their fight—allegations Pereira and his team have strongly denied. As for Adesanya, despite the serious claims made by Romero, the Cuban powerhouse doesn’t appear to hold any resentment. In fact, he recently offered the former champion a few words of advice. Let’s take a closer look!

Yoel Romero offered Israel Adesanya a piece of advice

Yoel Romero, despite parting ways with the UFC following his 2020 clash with Israel Adesanya, remains an active competitor at the age of 48. The Cuban powerhouse continues to showcase his skills across different promotions and most recently put on a striking display at DBX 1 — the inaugural event of ‘Dirty Boxing,’ co-owned by Jon Jones and Mike Perry. There, ‘Soldier of God’ squared off against Bellator MMA’s Ras Hylton and secured a third-round technical knockout victory.

On the other hand, his former rival Israel Adesanya, now 35, is navigating one of the most challenging stretches of his career in the middleweight division. Adesanya has dropped three consecutive fights, the most recent being a tough loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia. Despite their past rivalry, Yoel Romero doesn’t wish to see Adesanya continue down this rough path.

In a recent conversation with Ariel Helwani, Yoel Romero shared some heartfelt advice for Adesanya, saying: “I don’t think his career is over. I have a lot of respect for Israel. He’s a fantastic fighter, he’s very smart, but he’s possibly fighting his hardest fight right now. It’s with his ego. His ego is blinding his intelligence, and that’s why it’s his toughest fight. What I would tell him right now, I hope he can see this, is — and I’m giving him this advice as if I’m giving it to myself — taking the second commandment of Yeshua, love others like you love yourself.”

Romero’s words come on the heels of a resurfaced accusation that Adesanya may have bent the rules during their UFC 248 bout. It’s a serious claim—and one that adds a complex layer to their history. So what’s your take? Do you think Israel Adesanya could have knowingly crossed the line inside the Octagon? Share your thoughts below