The burning question in the MMA world today is whether Israel Adesanya, one of the “middleweight GOATs,” can get back on track. Izzy’s career took a major setback last week during his first fight of the year at UFC Saudi Arabia. At the ANB Arena in Riyadh, French-Dagestani juggernaut Nassourdine Imavov delivered a shocking upset, landing a powerful right-hand punch that knocked the former two-time middleweight champion out in the second round.

This loss followed two previous setbacks for Adesanya: first, a title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293, and then a defeat at the hands of reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who submitted Izzy, marking the first time in his career he ever fell victim to a submission. Consequently, this string of losses has led to speculation. At 35 years old, can the Nigerian-kiwi recover and regain his dominance? The MMA community remains split—some believe in his ability to bounce back, while others are doubtful.

Meanwhile, in the middle of this debate is Team Khabib’s head coach Javier Mendez. On a recent podcast, the AKA head honcho shared his perspective: “I don’t know, because most guys in this situation fall off. Very few manage to bounce back—Tony Ferguson, Tyron Woodley, Luke Rockhold… DC, Anderson Silva, Chris Weidman, the list goes on. Once they hit that downward spiral, it’s difficult to get back on track.” However, Mendez also stated, “I don’t think Israel is there yet,” though he admitted he wasn’t sure what would happen moving forward.

A prime example of what it’s like to endure a losing streak is Tony Ferguson. Once a dominant force in the 155lbs division, ‘El Cucuy’ was a nightmare for top names, including Donald Cerrone, Kevin Lee, and Rafael dos Anjos—each fight marked by brutal exchanges, with the former interim champ racking up an impressive 12-fight win streak.

However, his momentum came to a sudden halt when he took a short-notice fight against Justin Gaethje at UFC 249, which triggered an eight-fight loss streak that ultimately led to his departure from the promotion. Despite this, there remains hope for Israel Adesanya. Recently, Chael Sonnen underscored the possibility of a comeback for Izzy. Let’s take a closer look at his perspective and what it means for Adesanya’s future.

Chael Sonnen exposes the biggest issue in Israel Adesanya’s current run

“Israel needs to find an enemy.” This is the insight Chael Sonnen shared when reflecting on the mindset that contributed to Israel Adesanya’s loss to Sean Strickland. ‘The Bad Guy’ explained that the biggest issue for the Nigerian-Kiwi that night was his lack of animosity towards ‘Tarzan’, which became even more apparent after the fight. When Dana White offered him a rematch, Izzy refused, saying, “No, I really don’t want to fight the guy.”

This mentality has been further highlighted in Adesanya’s recent struggles, including his third straight loss to Imavov. Since facing Alex Pereira, the Nigerian-kiwi has become notably humbler, but that hunger and intensity that once fueled his career seems to have faded. According to Sonnen, Israel’s problem lies in a lack of motivation—without the fiery desire to prove himself, the drive to win simply isn’t there.

Once defined by fierce rivalries, Izzy’s approach now appears more docile, with moments of training alongside his opponents after fights, which raises a lot of questions about his future. What are your thoughts on Javier Mendez’s take on Israel Adesanya’s career? Do you think the former middleweight champion’s time at the top of the UFC has come to an end, or is there still a path to redemption for him? Share your opinion below.

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