Israel Adesanya Drops Out Of UFC Pound-For-Pound Rankings

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has fallen out of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings for the first time in five years, following his recent submission loss to South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis.

The Nigerian-born fighter, a consistent presence in the UFC’s top 15 for years, now faces uncertainty as he considers his next steps in the sport.

EDITOR’S PICKS

• School Proprietress Allegedly Killed, Burnt By Son In Delta
• Man Detained for Allegedly Killing Mother, Mutilating Son in Abia
• Fubara Regains Freedom After 11 Days in Captivity

Adesanya’s drop from the rankings comes after his defeat at UFC 305, where Du Plessis submitted him in the fourth round of their eagerly awaited middleweight title bout. This loss followed a year-long break after Adesanya lost his title to Sean Strickland in a stunning upset.

Known for his striking skills and charismatic style, Adesanya was aiming to reclaim the middleweight title but was outmanoeuvred by Du Plessis, who capitalized on a ground-game mistake to secure a rear-naked choke submission.

Adesanya, who had been a fixture in the pound-for-pound top 10 since September 2019, has now been replaced by Aljamain Sterling. The top spots are currently held by Islam Makhachev and Alex Pereira.

FURTHER READING

• Poverty, Hardship: Nigerians Turn To Organ Selling Amid Crisis
• Petrol Price Hike Pushing Nigerians To Breaking Point – NLC, Atiku
• No Mass Resignation Of Soldiers Due To Corruption, Low Morale -Nigerian Army

Despite this setback, sources close to Adesanya suggest that the rankings are not his main concern. His focus is on proving himself again and potentially staging a comeback.

While his future in the division is uncertain, his coach, Eugene Bareman, has hinted at a possible return in 2024, indicating that ‘The Last Stylebender’ may not be finished yet. Bareman also mentioned that Adesanya has remained active, training with other fighters from City Kickboxing, and could make a comeback this year.

Click here to watch our video of the week: