Israel Adesanya announces his next fight plans after UFC 305 loss to Dricus Du Plessis

At UFC 305, Israel Adesanya, one of MMA's most legendary fighters, took off his gloves shortly after losing by submission to Dricus Du Plessis.

The gesture, often seen as a sign of retirement, led to widespread speculation among fans and pundits at the RAC Arena, but Adesanya was quick to clarify that he had no intention of retiring from the sport.

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In a post-fight press conference, Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) told the media that he was “not fucking leaving.” While he acknowledged that the loss hurt, he stressed that his journey in the Octagon is far from over.

“It's strange how fate works,” Adesanya reflected. “This loss wasn't part of my plan, but I believe everything happens for a reason. There have been moments in my life where things didn't go the way I wanted, but later they made sense. This is just another chapter in my story. It's not about the belt or title; it's about doing what I set out to do in this sport.”

Despite the disappointment, Adesanya expressed his admiration for Du Plessis, who earned his respect during the fight. “I'm not desperate for a rematch,” he said. “He respected me and I respected him back. We're both fans of each other now. But when we fight again, it will be different.”

Adesanya also recognized Du Plessis as a rising force in African MMA, but vowed that the legacy of the “Three Kings” will continue to inspire the next generation of fighters. “Congratulations to him tonight,” Adesanya added, “but until we meet again, the story is not over.”

The former UFC champion said he likely won't return to the Octagon for three months but will continue training for his next fight.

Israel Adesanya cut a good figure despite the defeat

In a fight full of drama and high stakes, Israel Adesanya's valiant effort at UFC 305 wasn't enough to overcome Dricus Du Plessis' relentless assault. Although Adesanya showcased his technical brilliance in the stand-up, he struggled to hurt Du Plessis enough to stop his advance. The turning point came in the fourth round when, after surviving an early takedown and submission attempt, Adesanya was unable to escape from a similar position, resulting in a devastating submission loss.

Adesanya continued to shine throughout the fight, throwing long punches and powerful uppercuts that seemed to be able to turn the tide. However, Du Plessis took the hits and kept pushing forward, using an aggressive, head-down approach to land decisive strikes when they were needed most.