“I’m in no hurry,” Adesanya told IFL TV. “I’ve had four fights in fourteen months as UFC champion, and that’s unheard of.”
“Life forced me to take a vacation and I will do that, but you will see me soon. I said 2027, and these underdogs thought I really meant it. But, you’ll all see.”
In September of this year, Israel Adesanya lost his championship belt after losing a five-round unanimous decision to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in Sydney. Prior to that, the Nigerian fighter had two fights against Alex Pereira, first losing to the Brazilian by TKO in the fifth round and then knocking him out in the rematch.
With Adesanya’s announcement, Pereira’s recent hint of a UFC 300 event could mean they could be looking at a third championship fight under the banner of the world’s strongest league.
Following his loss to Adesanya, the Brazilian fighter moved up to the welterweight division, where he defeated Jan Blachowicz in a challenger’s bout and then won the vacant title by finishing former division champion Jiri Prohazka by technical knockout. After winning the championship belt, Pereira offered Adesanya to move up to the welterweight division and complete the trilogy, but his former opponent showed no interest.
As a reminder, UFC 300 will take place April 13 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.