Israel Adesanya is set to return at UFC 305 on August 17th against middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis. It’s been a minute since “The Last Stylebender” has fought — 11 months, which is a long stretch considering Izzy fit his last three fights into the same amount of time.
In a new interview, Adesanya says the break was essential to regaining focus on what he wanted to do in this final phase of his fight career.
He expressed to Sias Du Plessis that the hiatus was undeniably necessary. “I required a break from not only the fights but also from the training camps and the relentless demands we endure as fighters, both physically and mentally. So it was beneficial for me to disconnect from the sport.”
During my absence, I have gained a wealth of knowledge. It has been evident to those who have truly observed my actions that I have always possessed patience, but now I have even greater patience and a clearer understanding. I am absolutely certain about my goals for this final phase of my journey.
Adesanya is set to face Du Plessis in Perth, Australia for a title fight, but he clarified that his motivation doesn’t stem from a desire to reclaim the belt.
He expressed, “Being the UFC middleweight champion twice is an achievement I’m proud of. While winning it for the third time would be great, it’s not my primary objective. My focus lies in defeating formidable opponents from various disciplines and countries, like Dricus, adding their names to my record, and swiftly moving on to the next challenge until I feel satisfied. That’s what truly matters to me.”
I always saw the belt as a symbol of becoming a UFC champion, but the true essence lied in the journey to get there. I found immense pleasure in defeating my opponents, so I plan to continue doing so. By focusing on enjoying the process of beating people up, I believe the belt will naturally come and remain with me. However, I also understand that at some point, I will have to let it go.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Israel Adesanya (@stylebender)
When discussion turned to how he’d handle the physicality and strength of Dricus Du Plessis, Adesanya didn’t seem concerned.
“He said that he had faced off against Alex Pereira, the biggest middleweight, and managed to knock him out. He pondered over how to handle Dricus’ distinctive style and concluded that the best approach would be to embrace his own uniqueness and stay true to himself.”
I will never stray from my style or flow again, regardless of any desire to experiment or cater to others. I am committed to sticking to what I excel at, which is delivering phenomenal beatdowns. Throughout my career, I have always embraced this approach, and I am determined to return to it. The outcome does not concern me as much as the journey itself.
We’ll get to see the results of Adesanya’s mental refocusing on August 17th. Check out the full UFC 305 card right here.
