“I need to chill and think things through. I’ll take a little time to relax and focus on helping my teammates who have upcoming fights.” Former 2-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya stated in February, reflecting on his third consecutive loss at UFC Saudi Arabia. This thrashing came at the hands of the French sensation Nassourdine Imavov, who secured a knockout victory over Izzy in the second round. Since then, there has been little to no information from the Nigerian-Kiwi regarding his future in MMA and whether he will return to the Octagon.

However, that changed this week when MMA fans witnessed Alexander Volkanovski, at 36, reclaim the vacant featherweight title despite his recent struggles with a 1-3 record in previous bouts. Moreover, the Aussie broke more barriers as he became the first UFC fighter to win a title above 35 years of age between 125lbs and 155lbs. This seems to have inspired the former 185lbs champ, also 35, to consider a comeback after his brief hiatus.

Adesanya’s head coach, Eugene Bareman, provided a brief insight that Izzy was inspired by Volk’s heroics and wanted to come back. “Israel’s taking a break, mate. He’s in America. The one brief conversation he had with me in the changing room at Volk’s, he said, ‘Look, man, I think I’m going to fight again.’ Those are the conversations we’re having.” But the City Kickboxing head honcho did not give us a timeline or an opponent for the former champ’s return.

However, a member of Adesanya’s team today shared a significant update. His protege, Navajo Stirling, who is preparing for his second Octagon appearance at UFC 315 against Ivan Erslan in May, recently spoke with the ‘Home of Fight’ on their YouTube channel. Stirling explained, “I don’t think he needs to rush back to fight anytime soon. He’s always in good shape, bro. The guy who’s looking after him is training him up, and he’s got a nutritionist cooking for him. He’s living the life.”

Stirling continued, “I don’t know what he plans to do next, but he did tell me he wants to fight again this year.” Stirling also expressed his hope to fight on the same card as his mentor, saying, “Who knows? Maybe I’ll jump on his undercard or something. That would be great.”

Meanwhile, Israel Adesanya is currently enjoying his time off in America, staying true to his promise to take a break while continuing to support his teammates, especially rising talent Navajo Stirling, who’s just beginning his UFC journey. Stirling values the Nigerian-Kiwi’s guidance as he works to carve out his path in the sport.

Despite the break, the former champion hasn’t stayed idle. He’s recently been spotted training and sparring with former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley and coach Tim Welch, as ‘Suga’ gears up for his highly anticipated rematch against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. Though Adesanya has hinted at returning to the Octagon later this year, it seems someone has already set their sights on facing the former middleweight champ. Let’s take a closer look.

Who is the fresh face calling out Israel Adesanya next?

Israel Adesanya is currently navigating the first three-fight skid of his illustrious career, a phase that has left the Nigerian-Kiwi searching for stability. While he’s no longer the untouchable force that once ruled the middleweight division, his aura and influence remain intact. Even in this transitional chapter, the Nigerian-Kiwi stands as one of the sport’s most iconic figures—a magnet for ambitious contenders eager to build their name by challenging a living legend. One of the latest to throw his name in the mix is UFC middleweight #8 contender Roman Dolidze (15-3).

The Georgian powerhouse is riding a solid three-fight win streak and recently secured a hard-fought decision win over Marvin Vettori at UFC Vegas 104. Wasting no time in capitalizing on his momentum, Dolidze didn’t hesitate to call his shot. “I deserve a top-five fight, 100 percent,” he said during his post-fight interview. But he wasn’t just chasing rankings. With his sights set on greatness, he added, “There are two realistic fights for me. It’s [Robert] Whittaker or [Israel] Adesanya. Let’s go! Just give me a date. That’s all I need. Nothing more.”

What do you think about Israel Adesanya’s future in the sport? After enduring one of the toughest stretches of his career, can he make a comeback the way Alexander Volkanovski did at UFC 314 against Diego Lopes? Share your thoughts in the comments.