Israel Adesanya revealed he has signed the contract for his return to the Octagon, with his next bout linked to an upcoming event in Saudi Arabia. The former two-time middleweight champion has not won since April 2023 and has lost four straight, getting finished in each of his last three outings. Adesanya said the last three years have not been fun and that he has been lost but is now found again. He promised there will be 'blood in the sand' when he returns.
Israel Adesanya says he has signed the contract for his return to the Octagon, with the bout tied to an upcoming UFC event in Saudi Arabia, Bloody Elbow reported. The former two-time middleweight champion did not name an opponent or a date in his comments.
Adesanya, 37, has not won since April 2023 and arrives on a four-fight losing streak. He said the last three years have not been fun and that he has been lost but is now found again. He also promised there will be "blood in the sand" when he returns.
The Nigerian-born Adesanya stands at 24-6-0 and is ranked ninth at middleweight. He trains out of City Kickboxing and fights from a switch stance.
The recent run
Adesanya's three most recent recorded fights have all ended inside the distance. He lost by fourth-round submission to Dricus Du Plessis in a title fight at UFC 305 on August 17, 2024. He was then stopped in the second round by Nassourdine Imavov on February 1, 2025. His most recent recorded fight was a second-round KO/TKO loss to Joe Pyfer on March 28, 2026.
The numbers behind the former champion
Adesanya's striking profile remains the foundation of his career. He lands 4.03 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and his six-foot-four frame comes with an 80-inch (203 cm) reach. Grappling has rarely been part of his game: he averages just 0.05 takedowns and 0.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- A fifth straight defeat would deepen the longest losing run of his career, while a win would end a drought stretching back more than three years.
- He has been finished in each of his last three recorded fights, so durability and defensive adjustments will be a central question.
- His ranking of ninth at middleweight leaves him within reach of the top of a division he once ruled.
The UFC has not announced the bout, and the card he is expected to fight on has not been detailed in the report.
