Israel Adesanya, the former two-time UFC middleweight champion and one of the sport’s most dynamic fighters, is gearing up for a much-anticipated return to the Octagon in late 2025. After a challenging stretch that saw him lose three consecutive bouts most notably dropping his middleweight title to Sean Strickland "The Last Stylebender" is plotting a comeback to reclaim his place atop the 185-pound division. The burning question now is: Who will Adesanya face next?
Adesanya has made it clear that his preferred opponent is none other than Sean Strickland, the man who shocked the MMA world at UFC 293 by dethroning him via unanimous decision. Speaking candidly during International Fight Week in Las Vegas, where his legendary 2019 fight against Kelvin Gastelum was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, Adesanya expressed his desire for a rematch. “Most likely, I’m gonna guess mid-September, October,” he told Ariel Helwani. “Sean. No question. He lost his last fight. I lost my fight. And it’s like, ‘Alright. Cool. Want a rematch?’”
Despite this callout, Strickland has been notably silent, leading to some frustration on Adesanya’s part. During a recent media appearance, Adesanya quipped about Strickland’s lack of response, even poking fun at his rival’s physical condition: “Sean, it’s June, Men’s Mental Health Month. I hope you’re looking after your mental health and also look after your physical health… you fat b-----." While hyperbolic, the exchange reflects the tension and unresolved rivalry between the two fighters.
Adesanya’s motivation to return runs deeper than just avenging losses. In conversations with endurance coach David Goggins, he revealed that training with former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman reignited his fighting spirit. “I didn’t spar after my last fight. Then I sparred with Kamaru Usman for the first time in months. I knew once I sparred I would want to fight,” he said. Adesanya described his mindset as protecting the "young me," the aspect of himself inspired to reclaim greatness after recent setbacks.
While Strickland seems the natural choice for Adesanya’s next fight, UFC insiders suggest it may not materialize immediately. According to reports, the rematch is "not happening next," with the UFC likely weighing other matchup options to build Adesanya back up following his three-fight skid. Potential alternatives include top contenders like Paulo Costa, whom Adesanya recently gave a “brutal reality check” in the media, signaling he remains engaged with other challengers in the division.
Statistically, Adesanya’s recent run has been rough. After losing the middleweight belt decisively to Strickland in September 2023, he fell again to Dricus du Plessis via submission in August 2024, and then suffered a TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov in February 2025 his first non-title fight loss in years. Nonetheless, his status as a former two-time champion and ranking at #4 in the middleweight division assures him high-profile bouts on return.
Beyond competition, Adesanya’s recent Hall of Fame induction particularly for his iconic five-round war with Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 reminds fans and critics alike of his elite skill, resilience, and significance to MMA history. That fight, widely regarded as one of the greatest in UFC history, encapsulated his warrior spirit that still drives him.
Israel Adesanya’s planned late-2025 return is shaping up as a pivotal moment for the middleweight division. While a rematch with Sean Strickland remains his top target, lingering uncertainties about matchmaking mean other elite contenders could feature next. Regardless of the opponent, Adesanya’s comeback will test his ability to recapture his legendary form and reassert dominance in a division hungry for marquee matchups.
His words resonate: “If this is how I go out, this is how I go out but I’m going to die trying.” Fans will be watching closely when “The Last Stylebender” steps back into the cage this fall.
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