- Israel Adesanya has dismissed critics calling him ‘washed’ after suffering his third consecutive UFC loss
- Adesanya insisted he never chased UFC titles but expected success due to his work ethic and mindset
- The Nigerian-New Zealander remains confident despite his decline and vows to return stronger
Nigerian-New Zealander UFC fighter Israel Adesanya has never been one to shy away from criticism and challenges challenge, whether inside or outside the Octagon. However, after suffering his third consecutive loss in the UFC, critics have begun to question if ‘The Last Stylebender’ is past his prime.
Adesanya, known for his quick wit and unshakable self-belief, has fired back at those calling him ‘washed’ in the wake of his latest setback.
The former UFC middleweight champion faced Nassourdine Imavov in a highly anticipated bout, only to suffer a second-round TKO defeat.
This loss marked his fourth in his last five fights, a stunning fall from dominance for the Nigerian-New Zealander. Despite his struggles, Adesanya remains defiant, addressing his doubters in a YouTube ‘Ask Me Anything’ session,
“They call me washed, but how are you going to call me washed when you haven’t even been in laundry? You haven’t even gotten dirty. What have you done?” Adesanya snapped back at critics, dismissing suggestions that his best days are behind him.
Adesanya’s fight against Imavov started well in his favour, as he controlled the first round with his precise striking and tactical movement.
However, as the bout progressed, Imavov gained momentum, overwhelming Adesanya and forcing a stoppage in the second round.
When asked about his future and whether he is still chasing another title shot, Adesanya reiterated that he never saw championship gold as an obsession,
“Do I have a title shot in mind for the future? No! When I got to the UFC, I never chased the belt. I stand on that. I never chased the belt. I expected it,” he said.
Adesanya’s decline began with his submission loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in August 2024, followed by back-to-back stoppage defeats. Once an unstoppable force in the middleweight division, he now faces the harshest test of his career, proving that he still belongs among the elite.
Despite his recent setbacks, the 35-year-old remains confident in his ability to bounce back. Having built his reputation through successful careers in boxing and kickboxing before his MMA transition, Adesanya has shown and proven his resilience before.
Whether he can rise again in the UFC is left for him to determine, but if there’s one thing he refuses to do, it’s to accept that his time is up.
Nigerian star Israel Adesanya pockets staggering money despite loss to Du Plessis in UFC 305 final
Previously, TheRadar reported that Adesanya, known as 'The Last Stylebender', was set to earn a guaranteed $750,000 for the UFC 305 fight, while Du Plessis is set to collect $500,000.
With the anticipated strong performance of the pay-per-view broadcast, both fighters were expected to walk away with earnings well into seven figures. Du Plessis earned slightly less than Adesanya despite his victory.
