Israel Adesanya just said one word after his loss to Nassourdine Imavov –“Disappointed”. This one word single-handedly carried the weight of his hard work, expectations, and broken dreams. “I feel, honestly, God forbid if I lose my next 10 fights, it wouldn’t affect my legacy,” ‘Izzy’ had said this before stepping into the Octagon for his first non-PPV fight in six years. He’s truly one of those fighters experiencing the true thrill and agony of the sport.

So, what’s next for ‘The Last Stylebender’? His African ‘brother’ Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t think he has another title run in him. And we’re inclined to believe the undisputed middleweight champion’s words after seeing Adesanya’s three-fight fall from grace. The whole MMA community is worried about Adesanya’s future, UFC legends Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen too.

While conversing in the latest episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy, DC posed a valid question, “Is Adesanya the guy that just fights? Just fun fights, just fights to make money, just fights to continue being a pro athlete in mixed martial arts?” This impending and unavoidable question concerned Sonnen, as he replied, “I think so, and it concerns me. I don’t know that – Daniel it’s a very rare that you can transition. Death is very hard including the death of a career.”

‘The American Gangster’ further said, “Like what a young person will do, particularly a male, to cling to his identity. I mean, I have watched guys get kicked out of the classroom for being class clowns. But they could not control themselves. This is just what they were known for and I use it as an example. Like whatever that is, whatever your peer group in your walk of life is, and that’s who Izzy is. But he doesn’t have to be.”

Sonnen further stated that despite his success and millions in the bank, Israel Adesanya continued to be the man of the people. After his loss to Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia, he said in the post-fight presser, “I hate disappointing my fans and my team. My team’s still proud of me for the work that I put into this. It’s just the thrill and agony.” So is this the closing sequence of Israel Adesanya’s career?

What is next for Israel Adesanya?

It is particularly hard for Izzy given how the pendulum swung for him with an amazing first-round rapid-fire sequence only for it to lead to his downfall in the second against Imavov. He showed up and trained hard for this fight, coming off a loss to Dricus Du Plessis. What’s worse is the fact that he got submitted in that fight after doing so well, only to get KO’d in his comeback.

While other fighters might brush these things off, according to Sonnen, Adesanya can’t let it go. He is hurt and it shows. “I watched him after this fight… on the internet, social media, and he is hurt. He is very hurt, as a person,” Sonnen stated on Good Guy/Bad Guy with Daniel Cormier. “And I don’t want him to be. I want him to understand, this has been the cherry on top of the sundae for years now.”

And Sonnen should know. After all, he talked a big game in the UFC, and despite a stellar run to the middleweight title, experienced a career downfall thereafter. Still, that didn’t affect ‘The American Gangster’ as he’s someone who has shown the ability to separate himself from the outcome of competing. As for ‘Izzy’, he’s already cemented his status as one of the greatest middleweights out there, with some arguing that he has nothing more to prove.

Let’s also not forget the historic fight between Izzy and Kelvin Gastelum. UFC 236 was a 5-round warfare where the Nigerian Kiwi star proved that he was a champion at heart. So this present loss against Imavov does not overshadow his achievements. And his recent losing streak? All part of the game. If not fighting, Adesanya has enough wit and intelligence to make a career outside of it. What he does next with his life, only he knows.