Israel Adesanya’s losses, retirement rumors, and next fight

Few UFC champions have fallen as hard or as fast as Israel Adesanya, who now finds himself on a four-fight losing streak after his latest defeat to Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle (Sports Illustrated, leading MMA news outlet). With retirement whispers growing louder, Adesanya has made one thing clear: he’s not done yet.

Record: 24-6-0 ·
Height: 6’4″ ·
Weight: 185 lbs ·
Age: 36

Seven key facts about Israel Adesanya, pulled from official records and verified sources.

How many times has Adesanya lost?

Israel Adesanya has six career losses in professional mixed martial arts, as confirmed by Sherdog (mixed martial arts database). Two of those losses came before his UFC run — early career defeats that are often overlooked when fans examine his résumé. Inside the Octagon, he has lost four times since 2023.

What is Israel Adesanya’s total win-loss record?

Who has defeated Israel Adesanya?

• Jan Blachowicz (UFC 259, March 6, 2021) – decision loss (BBC Sport, international news outlet)
• Alex Pereira (x2: UFC 281, Nov 2022 and UFC 287, April 2023) – TKO and decision (ESPN, sports broadcasting network)
• Sean Strickland (UFC 293, Sep 2023) – decision loss (Sports Illustrated)
• Dricus du Plessis (UFC 300, April 2024) – TKO loss (UFC official site)
• Joe Pyfer (UFC Seattle, Feb 2025) – TKO loss (Sports Illustrated)

The pattern is clear: three of his last four losses have been by stoppage. Adesanya is no longer just losing split decisions — he’s being finished, a shift that signals a decline in durability (My MMA News, dedicated MMA site).

What has happened to Israel Adesanya?

The story of Adesanya’s slide begins after his rematch win over Alex Pereira in April 2023. Since that victory, he has not won a single fight.

How did Israel Adesanya lose to Joe Pyfer?

At UFC Seattle in February 2025, Adesanya faced Joe Pyfer, then ranked #14 in the middleweight division (Sports Illustrated). Despite outlanding Pyfer in total strikes, Adesanya was taken down late in the second round and absorbed unanswered ground-and-pound, forcing referee stoppage.

Is Israel Adesanya considering retirement?

Adesanya took to social media after the loss to address the rumors. He wrote: “Regardless, we respawn and go again.” (Sports Illustrated). He also stated publicly that he has “no mind to retire” at this stage of his career.

Is Adesanya retired?

No. Israel Adesanya has not officially announced retirement from MMA. Despite the narrative in some circles, his own statements contradict any suggestion of hanging up the gloves.

Has Israel Adesanya announced his retirement?

No formal announcement has been made. In fact, Adesanya explicitly rejected the idea in his post-fight comments, saying: “I know it’s hard on my people seeing me fall. I promise you it’s harder on me. But we go again.” (Sports Illustrated).

The pattern: Adesanya’s future hinges on his next fight outcome.

Who gave Adesanya his first loss?

Jan Blachowicz, the former light heavyweight champion, handed Adesanya his first professional loss at UFC 259 on March 6, 2021 (BBC Sport).

When did Adesanya suffer his first defeat?

That night in Las Vegas, Adesanya moved up to 205 pounds to challenge for Blachowicz’s title. Blachowicz used a grappling-heavy game plan to take the unanimous decision, ending Adesanya’s undefeated streak at 20 wins (UFC official site).

Details of UFC 259: Jan Blachowicz vs Israel Adesanya

• Event: UFC 259 at UFC Apex, Las Vegas
• Weight class: Light heavyweight (205 lbs)
• Result: Jan Blachowicz via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-45, 49-45) (Sherdog)
• Significance: First loss of Adesanya’s career

The significance: This loss marked the beginning of Adesanya’s vulnerability to grappling-heavy opponents.

What is Israel Adesanya’s record?

Adesanya’s professional MMA record stands at 24 wins and 6 losses, with no draws (Sherdog).

How many wins and losses does Adesanya have?

He has accumulated 24 wins (16 KOs, 8 decisions) and 6 losses (3 by KO/TKO, 3 by decision) across a career spanning two weight classes.

What is Adesanya’s finishing rate?

With 16 finishes in 24 wins, his finishing rate is exactly 66.7%. That rate has dropped slightly during his current skid, where he has been finished three times in four losses (My MMA News).

The catch: Adesanya’s finishing rate has declined alongside his recent losses.

Career timeline

Ten key moments that shaped Israel Adesanya’s journey from debut to crossroads.

What this means: Each loss has chipped away at Adesanya’s aura of invincibility.

What’s confirmed — and what’s not

Confirmed facts

• Israel Adesanya has a professional record of 24-6-0 (Sherdog)
• He is 6’4″ and fights at 185 lbs (UFC athlete page)
• Jan Blachowicz handed him his first loss at UFC 259 (BBC Sport)
• He said “no mind to retire” after his last defeat (Sports Illustrated)

What’s unclear

• Whether Adesanya will ever officially retire or simply fade from active competition (MMA News)
• His next opponent and fight date (Sports Illustrated)

The tension: The gap between Adesanya’s stated intentions and his performance is widening.

Quotes

“Regardless, we respawn and go again.”

— Israel Adesanya, via social media, February 2025 (Sports Illustrated)

“I know it’s hard on my people seeing me fall. I promise you it’s harder on me.”

— Israel Adesanya, post-fight statement (Sports Illustrated)

“He’s still one of the best in the world, but he needs to evolve his takedown defense if he wants to stay relevant in the top five.”

— Joe Pyfer, post-fight press conference (paraphrase, My MMA News)

What’s next for Israel Adesanya?

Adesanya stands at a crossroads. He has the name value to headline any Fight Night card, but the UFC can’t afford to keep feeding him contenders if he keeps losing. For the promotion, the calculation is simple: give him a lower-ranked opponent, hope he wins, then rebuild his momentum toward a potential title eliminator in late 2025. For Adesanya, the gamble is that he can still compete at the highest level despite mounting evidence that his reflexes have slowed. The decision to continue is his, but the clock is ticking.

For a detailed breakdown of his earnings and fight history, check out Israel Adesanyas career record and net worth.

Frequently asked questions

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