5 matchups for Israel Adesanya after UFC 305
At UFC 305, Israel Adesanya came up short against his rival, Dricus du Plessis. Despite a heated build-up to the fight, both men put on excellent performances in what ended up being a very compelling contest.
Unfortunately for Adesanya, however, he lost to du Plessis via fourth-round submission and is now 1-3 in his last four bouts, with a two-fight losing streak sullying his recent run. At 35 years old on a rough patch, where does Adesanya go from here?
#5. Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov
The loss to Dricus du Plessis has fundamentally altered the trajectory of Israel Adesanya's middleweight run, especially after he dismissed any talk about moving to light heavyweight at the UFC 305 post-fight presser. If he is determined to stay at middleweight, a matchup with Nassourdine Imavov could be in the cards.
Every fight Adesanya has had in the UFC since 2019 has been a championship bout. Unfortunately, he's lost two back-to-back title fights, so he's unlikely to get a third consecutive title fight. If he is intent on working his way back into contention, clashing with a fresh foe like Imavov is the way to go.
Imavov is ranked #4 and is the only fighter Adesanya hasn't faced in the middleweight top five. Imavov is on a two-fight win streak and recently finished Jared Cannonier, who 'The Last Stylebender' took to a lackluster decision.
So, if both parties are willing, it's a matchup to book if Imavov gets past Brendan Allen next month.
#4. Israel Adesanya vs. Jiří Procházka
This matchup is unlikely, but not impossible. Jiří Procházka previously expressed an interest in cutting down to middleweight. Given the Czech samurai's repeated failures to recapture his 205-pound title from Alex Pereira, fighting at 185 pounds could be the way to go moving forward.
If he does make the move, a bout with Israel Adesanya would make for a thrilling striking match between two flashy showmen with a deep appreciation for Eastern Asian culture and media. The pair are known to share a management team, something that may prove to be a barrier in putting together the fight.
However, it wouldn't be the first time that friends faced each other inside the octagon. If Adesanya's championship days are over, pursuing fun stylistic matchups with high-profile opponents may be the way to go.
#3. Israel Adesanya vs. Paulo Costa 2
Israel Adesanya is one of the UFC's biggest stars. Thus, the promotion has a vested interest in maintaining his market value for as long as he fights for them. To do so, his image needs some rehabilitation following defeats to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis. He needs an impressive win.
A former opponent of his in Paulo Costa recently called Adesanya out:
"I want my rematch, and you know, I'm waiting for you."
Check out Paulo Costa's call for a rematch with Israel Adesanya:
A rematch with Paulo Costa would do wonders for him. The Brazilian is ranked #8 in the division, but gave a good account of himself in his recent losses to Robert Whittaker and 'Tarzan.' This also presents a very winnable fight for 'The Last Stylebender,' who ended up finishing Costa the first time they faced each other.
Moreover, the pair have history, with Costa blaming his past loss to Adesanya on him drinking a bottle of wine prior to their fight. As a result, the UFC may choose to run this one back.
#2. Israel Adesanya vs. the loser of Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev
The winner of the upcoming Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev fight will almost certainly go on to face Dricus du Plessis for the South African's middleweight belt. The loser should face Israel Adesanya.
A fight with either Whittaker or Chimaev would be compelling. While Adesanya stopped 'The Reaper' in their first encounter, their second bout was far more competitive, with some, including Whittaker himself, believing that the latter had done enough to beat Adesanya. So, why not book a trilogy?
Conversely, if Chimaev loses to Whittaker, facing Adesanya would be beneficial for both men. Chimaev would get the chance to undo some of the sting of his first loss by potentially beating the second greatest middleweight of all time. Meanwhile, for Adesanya, it would be a fun scrap with a big enough name to draw his interest.
#1. Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland 2
Sean Strickland's decision to sit out in wait for a middleweight title shot may not pay off. While his fight with Dricus du Plessis was close and competitive, he wasn't a long-reigning champion. In fact, he has zero successful title defenses, losing the belt almost as soon as he had claimed it.
So, a quick rematch for the title after just one win since losing it doesn't make sense. The winner of Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev can go on to challenge 'Stillknocks,' while 'Tarzan' can face Israel Adesanya in a rematch. If he wins, it would solidify him as the next title challenger.
For Adesanya, the bout is meaningful. Strickland is one of the few men to have beaten him in MMA, but it was a loss that 'The Last Stylebender' is unhappy with. He feels he could have performed better and so, a rematch would be his chance to redeem himself.