The future of MMA superstar Israel Adesanya is in question after a three-fight losing streak, with his coach hinting at a potential retirement
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he career trajectory of Israel Adesanya, a prominent figure in mixed martial arts, has sparked questions about his future in the sport.
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Despite maintaining his superstar status, “The Last Stylebender” finds himself on a three-fight losing streak for the first time in his combat sports journey.
Adesanya defied expectations when he transitioned from kickboxing to MMA. Despite his striking-specialist background, the New Zealander captured the UFC middleweight championship and successfully defended it five times. However, his recent losses have led to speculation about his next steps.
While Adesanya himself has remained relatively quiet about his future plans, his coach, Eugene Bareman, has offered some insight.
“Izzy is being Izzy,” Bareman stated. “I don’t know what he’s doing next but that’s a good place to be.” He added, “Yeah, he’s just doing him. I don’t know.”
Bareman then hinted at the possibility of retirement being a consideration for Adesanya.
“If he’s going to fight again, then he’s going to fight again,” Bareman said. “If he’s not, we’ve been blessed, I’ve been blessed, the world’s been blessed, the team’s been blessed.” He concluded, “But it’s completely up to him [to make a decision about retiring].”
Eugene Bareman has coached numerous talented fighters under the City Kickboxing (CKB) banner, including Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France, and the rising star Carlos Ulberg.
However, none have achieved the level of success and recognition within the sport that Israel Adesanya has.
Also read: Don’t follow my footsteps, Israel Adesanya tells aspiring athletes
Should Adesanya decide to step away from the octagon, his time in the UFC will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most remarkable in the organisation’s 31-year history.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
