Israel Adesanya is one of the biggest names the sport of mixed martial arts has ever produced. Despite still retaining his superstar status, his career in the sport may have now run its course.
‘The Last Stylebender’ surpassed the level anybody believed he was capable of when he made the transition over to MMA from kickboxing. Having a specialist style, many expected him to struggle at the highest level in the cage but the New Zealander was able to capture the UFC middleweight strap and defend it five times.
Israel Adesanya now finds himself on a three-fight skid for the first time across his entire journey through combat sports.
Questions are being asked of his future, and while it’s still uncertain what the UFC ace will do, fans have been given some clarity.
“Izzy is being Izzy,” coach Eugene Bareman said. “I don’t know what he’s doing next but that’s a good place to be.”
“Yeah, he’s just doing him. I don’t know.”
Bareman then hinted that a potential retirement decision is looming over Adesanya’s head.
“If he’s doing to fight again then he’s going to fight again.”
“If he’s not, we’ve been blessed, I’ve been blessed, the world’s been blessed, the team’s been blessed.”
“But it’s completely up to him [to make a decision about retiring].”
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Eugene Bareman has had the privilege of working with a plethora of talented fighters under the City Kickboxing banner.
Dan Hooker, Kai Kara-France, and rising star Carlos Ulberg are just some of the names fighting out of CKB but none come close to Israel Adesanya’s level of success and standing within the sport.
If fans have seen the last of Adesanya, his time inside the octagon will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest in the 31-year history of the UFC.
Listen to Eugene Bareman’s comments on Israel Adesanya and more below.
