Israel Adesanya hesitant about UFC return, yet feels ready to fight this weekend: "We'll see"
Israel Adesanya was unable to reclaim the middleweight title after suffering a fourth-round submission loss to Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC 305. 'The Last Stylebender' recently revealed that he would be ready to fight this weekend, but he is unsure when he will return to the octagon.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the two-time middleweight champion stated:
"Like I said, enjoy me while I'm here. Enjoy me while I fight. I started to watch the fight and literally, I was like, f**k, I could go again. I was like, f**k, I could go again. I still feel good. I'm like, literally, bro, I could fight this weekend. Don't have to even make weight, I could fight this weekend, but I'm like, 'Hmm, eh, we'll see.' I just want to get back to the gym, get training again and then we'll reset, re-group and yeah, we'll see."
Check out Israel Adesanya's comments on his return to the octagon below:
Adesanya was inactive for nearly a year ahead of UFC 305, the longest break of his combat sports career. It is unclear how long he will remain sidelined. However, his next bout will be his first non-title fight since February 2019, with his last 12 trips to the octagon all coming with a belt on the line.
Dricus du Plessis claims Israel Adesanya feud ahead of UFC 305 was real
After being engaged in a heated feud leading up to UFC 305, Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis buried the hatchet following their middleweight title bout. 'Stillknocks' shared that, despite the respect he showed his opponent afterwards, his feelings going into the bout were real.
Speaking at his post-fight press conference, the middleweight champion stated:
"I say this all the time - myself and Israel, the beef was not fake. The fact that we don't like each other on a personal level was not fake - at least not from my side. It's just irrelevant in that octagon. What does it matter? I'm not talking about that I hate Israel Adesanya. I'm just saying that if we were in a social setting, I would probably not be sitting at his table."
He added:
"The respect that I have for him in this sport and what he's done, it can't be denied because if you don't, you're an idiot. If you can't see what Israel has done in the sport and appreciate that as a warrior, a fellow warrior, you're an idiot. The man has done great things in the sport."
Check out Dricus du Plessis' comments on the feud with Israel Adesanya below:
The pair embraced in the octagon after the bout before meeting backstage, where Adesanya's opponent gifted him a custom jacket. Despite the feud heading into the bout, sharing time in the cage led both to bury the hatchet.