Nigerian-born former UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has dropped out of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings, ending a five-year streak. Adesanya’s removal from the list follows his submission loss to Du Plessis at UFC 305, where he was defeated in the fourth round of their highly anticipated middleweight title bout.
This defeat comes after Adesanya’s year-long hiatus from the sport, which followed an unexpected loss of his title to Sean Strickland. Known for his striking prowess and dynamic presence, Adesanya was a fixture in the UFC’s top 15 but now faces an uncertain future as he plans his next move.
Adesanya’s recent loss to Du Plessis, who utilized a rear-naked choke to capitalize on a ground-game error by Adesanya, has seen him replaced in the rankings by Aljamain Sterling. Currently, Islam Makhachev and Alex Pereira hold the top positions in the pound-for-pound list.
Despite this setback, Adesanya’s camp remains optimistic. Coach Eugene Bareman has hinted at a possible return in 2024, suggesting that ‘The Last Stylebender’ may still have significant moments ahead in his career.