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Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has dropped a significant hint about his future in the Octagon, revealing that he could hang up his gloves by 2027.
The Nigerian-born superstar, who is currently preparing for a pivotal clash against Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle on March 28, admitted that the end of his illustrious career is now in sight.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, the 36-year-old fighter acknowledged that his time in the sport is winding down.
Adesanya, often referred to as “The Last Stylebender,” disclosed that he has less than 10 fights remaining in his career. He outlined a potential schedule of competing twice a year, a pace that would see him retire within the next two years.
“I can see the finish line. I’ve been seeing the finish line in the distance, but now it’s closer. 2028 is going to be like, I don’t know yet. I can’t see past 2027,” Adesanya said.
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The announcement comes at a challenging period for the former champion. Adesanya is currently on a three-fight losing streak, having suffered defeats to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and most recently a knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov in Saudi Arabia in February 2024.
For the first time in his professional career, Adesanya will enter his upcoming bout against Pyfer as the betting underdog.
However, he remains focused on turning the tide. He revealed that he was deep in negotiations to face former ONE Championship king Reinier de Ridder at UFC Vancouver in October 2025 but was forced to withdraw due to a gym injury.
While initially frustrated by the setback, Adesanya now views the time off as a “blessing in disguise,” as it allowed him to fully recover from the knockout loss to Imavov and prepare adequately for the challenge posed by Pyfer.
Despite his recent struggles, Adesanya remains one of the most decorated fighters in middleweight history, holding the record for the second-longest winning streak in the division behind Anderson Silva.
He has previously dismissed the idea of a crossover to boxing upon retirement, stating he prefers mixed martial arts where he can utilize all his weapons.
Reflecting on the current state of the division he once dominated, Adesanya described the middleweight landscape as “bland” compared to his reign, suggesting it lacks the excitement he brought to the title picture.
As the clock ticks down to 2027, fans will be watching closely to see if “The Last Stylebender” can reclaim his glory before taking his final bow.
