Israel Adesanya vows to never fight again when he retires: ‘I never want to be that guy’

Israel Adesanya has declared his intention to retire from fighting for good, determined to avoid the pitfall that has claimed many combat sports veterans who struggle to leave the sport behind.

The two-time UFC middleweight champion, now 37 and mired in a career-worst slump with four consecutive losses, knows his time at the elite level is drawing to a close. Recent defeats to Joe Pyfer, Nassourdine Imavov, and Dricus du Plessis—all finishes—have underscored the physical toll of over 16 years in professional combat sports. Yet Adesanya's primary concern isn't the losses themselves; it's ensuring he makes a clean exit without the lingering itch to return that has haunted fighters from Chuck Liddell and B.J. Penn to Conor McGregor and Tyson Fury.

In a YouTube video, Adesanya explained his philosophy: he plans to scratch his competitive itch through alternative pursuits—poker, running with the bulls, or other adrenaline-fueled activities—rather than returning to the octagon. "Once I'm done, I'm fucking done," he stated, adding that he has witnessed too many former champions unable to find purpose outside fighting and consequently mounting comebacks. Adesanya credits retired UFC icon Georges St-Pierre, whom he describes as a mentor figure, with helping him recognize that life after fighting offers genuine opportunities worth pursuing.

Additionally, Adesanya is looking forward to reduced fight frequency and the freedom to pursue outside projects—including potential film and television roles he turned down during his prime when championship obligations demanded his full attention. With a legacy as one of the sport's greatest middleweight competitors now secured, Adesanya aims to close his career with intentionality, knowing he won't need fighting to feel whole.