Mixed martial arts analyst Sayif Saud believes Israel Adesanya’s recent decline in form can be attributed to diminishing speed, following the Nigerian-born fighter’s third consecutive defeat at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
“At 35 years old, if you’re just a hair slower, just a hair, just like Roy Jones Jr. The guy was all reflexes. He would hit people and come back and they couldn’t even touch him.
“He got just a hair slower and that was the difference. So I think that’s what we’re seeing with Izzy,” said Saud, head coach at Fortis MMA and nominee for Analyst Of The Year at the 16th Annual World MMA Awards.
The former two-time UFC middleweight champion suffered a second-round TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, marking his fourth defeat in his last five outings.
The loss saw him drop two places to fourth in the official UFC middleweight rankings, while Imavov climbed to the second spot ahead of Khamzat Chimaev.
Adesanya’s team claimed he was not well prepared for his previous title fight against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 last August, where he lost via submission despite a strong start.
Speaking to ESPN MMA after his latest defeat, Adesanya hinted at possible retirement.
“I don’t know. I’ll have to chill and think about things,” he said.
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has advised his close friend to take time off and focus on enjoying his fighting career.
“For Israel, man, honestly he’s at a point in his career to where – remember Anderson Silva got to this place where, ‘I’m going to pick a fun fight. It’s a fun fight, that’s a fight that I think is going to be great, that people want to see that fight,’” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo.
“Right now, Izzy, take your time. When you want to come back at the end of the year then take a fight that makes sense,” he added.
The bout marked the first time in six years and 12 fights that Adesanya has competed without a UFC championship on the line, with his latest loss potentially reshaping his approach to future matchups in the increasingly competitive middleweight division.