Israel Adesanya is in a tough predicament after failing to recapture his title last weekend. Where does he go from here? Well, before we get any answer to that question, UFC legend Chael Sonnen couldn’t help but draw a parallel between the former 2-time middleweight champion’s career trajectory to that of Ronda Rousey, and find a certain similarity.

Ronda Rousey, just like Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya, was the star fans wanted to witness in all her glory back in the day. As such, Dana White valued her pretty highly, and that translated into her fighting in the main event ever since she debuted in the UFC. It was there mentioned in her contract with the UFC, having claimed that she was the biggest earner in the promotion at that time. However, things started to foil after Rousey lost to Holly Holm, and thereafter recapture her title against Amanda Nunes.

“Let me bring Ronda Rousey into this for one reason. Ronda had such a big contract, and she had such a big guarantee that you had to use her on PPVs… main event, and typically a main event for PPVs, particularly with women fighting, is reserved for title fights. She couldn’t win the championship anymore,” said Chael Sonnen on the ‘Good Guy/Bad Guy’ show. Consequently, having lost her undefeated aura, it became increasingly hard for Dana White to put ‘Rowdy’ in the main event picture.

“Ronda was still a five, a seven, a ten. She still could win some matches if she wanted to participate, but it was very hard to justify using her in any spot in the main event,” Chael Sonnen added. And according to the UFC legend, things are the same for Israel Adesanya at the moment, and for that, he suggests the Nigerian-born Kiwi star pays attention to what he does next.

Chael Sonnen advises Israel Adesanya to devise a plan

With two losses in a row, something that has never happened to Israel Adesanya ever, Chael Sonnen thinks that ‘Izzy’ needs to set his priorities straight. In 2022, when ‘Izzy’ signed a new UFC deal, the former 2-time champ became the highest-paid athlete in the UFC, just like Ronda Rousey back in the mid-2010s. Regardless, Sonnen suggests Adesanya proceeds with caution with his next pick of fights as his career could decline just like ‘Rowdy’. It’s especially because he doesn’t seem to have a spot in the current title picture, and several other contenders do!

“Adesanya, when he signed his new contract, which was about two years ago. It was right before he fought Whittaker for the second time… which at that time made him the highest-paid guy in the sport… he needs a plan,” Chael Sonnen further stated. “Adesanya fighting for championships and fighting grudges, man. This story works, but right now, he appears to be left without an opponent.”

Combat sports can be cruel at times. Even the slightest of downs could have a significant impact on an athlete. Regardless, Israel Adesanya has assured that fans he’s not “f***ing leaving.” So what can we expect from ‘The Last Stylebender’? That remains to be seen.