Israel Adesanya makes retirement decision after brutal UFC Saudi Arabia KO loss to Nassourdine Imavov
ISRAEL ADESANYA has seemingly made a decision on retirement following a crushing loss to Nassourdine Imavov.
The former two-time middleweight champion suffered his third loss on the bounce in the main event of UFC Fight Night in 250 on Saturday night.
Adesanya’s fighting future was thrown into major doubt thanks to a second-round KO defeat, which prompted scores of fans to call for him to hang up his gloves.
But the fan favourite has hinted he’s far from done in the octagon.
Along with a video of the aftermath of the bout, he wrote on Instagram: “Rolled the dice…snake eyes.
“I’ll be back, gone to get some milk.”
Fan favourite Adesanya was initially unsure of his future in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.
“I don’t know [what’s next for me],” he told ESPN. “I have to chill and think about things. I’ll relax a little bit.
“Help the team-mates that have fights coming up and see what I wanna do.
“I was going to that anyway, but now I’m forced to. Shoutout to Nassourdine for that.”
The Nigerian-born New Zealander started the contest well, winning the first round before getting clipped by a huge overhand right early in the second.
The 35-year-old said of the result: “I’m disappointed. I hate disappointing my fans and my team.
“My team’s real proud of me because of the work I put into this.
“It’s just the thrill and agony [of the fight game].”
UFC supremo Dana White has impressed by what he saw of the former champion, saying: “I thought Izzy looked incredible right up until he got caught.
“He was picking him apart, busting him up on the outside. His takedown defence was incredible.
“He was chopping that calf kick the whole first round.
“He couldn’t have had a better first round and then he got caught.”
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