Israel Adesanya picked Dricus Du Plessis over Sean Strickland for the UFC 297 win. Did either of the fighters really care about it? No. In a fresh new press conference for the pay-per-view, Israel Adesanya was brought up as the former champion’s opinion was put on trial by both of the fighters.

While one never got to fight ‘Izzy’ for the title, the other fought and took him down in one of 2023’s most surprising upsets. Clearly, there’s a lot to say about him and a lot that cannot be denied. Take a look at how Adesanya was tossed around in the media.

Israel Adesanya dismissed like a class that’s over

Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis are bringing out the trash-talker in one another. The two will put up a brilliant fight and you can already tell. It’s like they’re the catalyst for one another. However, one person is not the catalyst and it’s Israel Adesanya.

The two were asked about the former champ’s opinion and were quick to dismiss it. “Israel Adesanya is irrelevant right now, that man way on the holiday right now, let him stay there.”  Remarked Du Plessis while Strickland was more outspoken.

“Izzy, the f*cking guy, the f*cking cringe lord,” said Strickland, and added, “F*ck Izzy, f*cking I took Izzy down and beat his as* on the ground . . . Izzy shut your mouth.” Evidently, he wants nothing to do with Adesanya’s opinion from the sidelines.

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Perhaps there is a time and a place where Adesanya himself can find his space to return. Clearly, the way things are going has been on his mind. Losing his belt in a major upset could not have been easy. So what does the former champ have to say about his return?

Does Adesanya plan a return soon?

Adesanya recently sat down with famed boxing coach Teddy Atlas to discuss all things fight. And when discussing all things fighting, how could he not bring up his return to the UFC? He mentioned he he saw himself in the mirror and missed “the beast” that he used to be in the cage.

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Nonetheless, it’s still a long time until he can become that again. He noted that for now, he just needs to sit back and relax. Returning right now would be too soon and perhaps he’s not ready to take on that great of a risk after being the most active champion in recent history.

But if and when he does, who will he fight as he reaches for the belt? What are your predictions?

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