After failing to reclaim the middleweight title from division king Dricus du Plessis back in August, former champion Israel Adesanya has been out of the picture since then. However, now eager to return to the octagon, Adesanya first wants to settle the score with Sean Strickland, the fighter who initially took the title from him at UFC 293 despite being labeled the underdog. Strickland later lost the title to Du Plessis at UFC 297 back in January.

On this note, Adesanya recently opened up while speaking to Joe Rogan on his JRE MMA Show #164, where he stated, “Strickland definitely, I took his best shots, and I just know I can… I know I can take this guy. I know what I can do.” After Alex Pereira, Sean Strickland became the next opponent to defeat Adesanya, marking his second consecutive loss after he also lost to Du Plessis following a year-long break.

This statement is bound to reach Sean Strickland, who has been spending time with Alex Pereira, helping him prepare for his toughest battle yet against Khalil Rountree Jr., slated for October 5. Before his faceoff against Dricus du Plessis, Israel Adesanya reflected on his past defeat to Strickland, labeling it a “bad dream.”

However, Strickland didn’t hold the title for long, as he lost it to Du Plessis just a few months later. Now, trying to put his past behind him, Adesanya is looking to bounce back soon, revealing his potential return timeline in a recent interview with The Adam Carolla Show.

Israel Adesanya discusses his return to the octagon

Despite back-to-back losses, 35-year-old Israel Adesanya remains unbroken, displaying the same zeal he had in his 20s. Eager to return to the octagon and reclaim the middleweight title before retiring from MMA, Adesanya’s focus is not solely on the belt—he’s still hooked on enjoying his journey in the promotion.

While speaking on The Adam Carolla Show, Adesanya revealed his return timeline, stating, “At the moment, I want to fight one more time before the end of this year, or early next year. But I don’t know yet. I’m just training, building off where we left off, and I’ll get the call at some point with a few options. I’m sure Dana [White] will hit me up at some point.” Adesanya has been one of the most active fighters in the promotion, holding the record for fighting 12 consecutive title fights before being caught in a hiatus.

What are your thoughts on Israel Adesanya’s remarks? Do you believe he can still be the same fighter he once was, or is his era over? Drop your opinion below.