Israel Adesanya’s highly anticipated return to the octagon at UFC 305 ended in heartbreak as he fell short in his bid to reclaim the middleweight crown against formidable champion Dricus Du Plessis. This setback marked a significant departure from Adesanya’s reputation as one of the most active champions in the history of the division.

Post-fight, Izzy found himself embroiled in controversy after a street fight video from his native New Zealand surfaced online. In the latest JRE MMA Show#164, Adesanya recounted the incident to Joe Rogan, sharing how his deceased friend’s memory helped him to maintain composure during the infamous altercation.

Israel Adesanya shares behind-the-scenes details of his street fight in his hometown

Israel Adesanya narrowly avoided a street altercation with a stranger, as captured in a widely circulated video. This incident occurred after Izzy left a training session when a random individual initiated a confrontation. Fortunately, Adesanya, despite being in a fighting mood, chose to de-escalate the situation, potentially saving the man from a life-altering injury.

This encounter highlighted a recurring pattern of individuals challenging professional fighters in street confrontations, often with disastrous consequences. Adesanya’s decision to maintain his composure was a stark contrast to the aggressive behavior exhibited by many in such situations. Rather than losing his cool, ‘The Last Stylebender’ expressed frustration with the bystanders who filmed the incident instead of intervening. This lack of support from the crowd further underscored the dangers of involving oneself in a fight with a literal MMA superstar.

Adesnaya further added that the death of his friend and teammate, Fau Vake, helped him keep his calm. He stated, “But there was only one guy who used his phone to call the cops when I asked him. Cause I didn’t want to hurt this guy. And this guy and I don’t know he was going through something or he was maybe cracked out or something. Cuz even the video that came out it seemed like it was set up. Cuz the guy kept on going, and I like what are you trying to say. And I’m glad that I am soft I have patience if I had a bad day it might have been different. I like to say that because of the freedom of thought, but also my friend, you know Fau Vake got killed by senseless street violence.”

Indeed, things could have been very different if the former champion decided to teach a lesson to the man. However, this was not the only topic of discussion in the latest podcast. Adesanya was once a dominant force in the division, but his recent form has taken a toll. He has lost his last two fights, and at 35, many feel he is way past his prime and would want to get out of the fight game soon. But what does ‘The Last Stylebender’ think about his retirement?

Israel Adesanya gets candid about his retirement plan after his UFC 305 loss

Since his debut in the UFC, Israel Adesanya has slayed the biggest stars in his division on his way to the much-deserved title glory. He remains the only fighter in the promotion who has knocked out Alex Pereira, to win back his middleweight gold.

Not only this, ‘The Last Stylebender’ also holds a record of 12 consecutive title fights, most by any champion. However, his last two outings have raised questions in the minds of the fans about his career. But the former champion is confident that he will once again win back his belt. Recently, Joe Rogan echoed the same sentiments. He went on to ask Adesanya about his future in the sport and said, “Do you have a timeline on how much longer you want to fight for?” Izzy wasted no time in answering the question and made it clear that he would be around for some time now. I’m spontaneous like that, but I think 38, maybe 39. Let’s see what happens first. At the moment, I’m still here.” said Adesanya.

The former champion is a man on a mission and is looking to win back his lost belt. Currently, he has no fight lined up for him, but fans will be hoping to see him in action soon. Who do you think Israel Adesanya will face next in his career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.