Adesanya set for 2024 UFC return

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is determined to return to the Octagon before the end of 2024.

The Nigerian-born fighter, who recently dropped out of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings for the first time in five years, is eager to prove he still has the skills to compete at the highest level.

Adesanya’s ranking exclusion followed a submission loss to South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305, where he failed to reclaim the middleweight title. This defeat marked his second consecutive loss, coming after an upset against Sean Strickland, which cost him his belt.

Despite these challenges, the 35-year-old remains optimistic. Adesanya expressed his desire to return to action soon, stating, “I’d rather just fight—not really for the belt, just fight for fighting’s sake. I want to fight one more time before the end of this year or early next year.”

His coach, Eugene Bareman, also hinted at a possible return in 2024, confirming that Adesanya has stayed active by training with other fighters at City Kickboxing.

Although Adesanya isn’t focused on an immediate title shot, he’s keen to see how the middleweight division plays out, including potential bouts between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, and Robert Whittaker vs. Khamzat Chimaev.

“I’m just training, building up where we left off. I’ll get the call at some point with a few options. I think Dana will hit me up at some point,” he said.

While Adesanya contemplates his next move, the middleweight division continues to evolve. The likes of Islam Makhachev and Alex Pereira now occupy the top spots in the pound-for-pound rankings, with Aljamain Sterling replacing Adesanya in the list.