UFC analyst hopes Israel Adesanya's legacy not diminished by losing skid

Some of MMA's all-time greats have ended their careers on a pile of losses. Things are currently headed in that direction for future UFC Hall of Famer Israel Adesanya.

Former longtime middleweight champion Adesanya (24-6 MMA, 13-6 UFC) hasn't had his hand raised since April 2023, when he knocked out Alex Pereira to reclaim the belt in arguably the most triumphant moment of his illustrious combat sports career.

Since then, however, it's been four consecutive defeats to Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov, and, most recently, Joe Pyfer. He's been finished in the past three of his contests, including knockouts to Imavov and Pyfer.

At 36, Adesanya has claimed he has no intention of walking away from competition. Those comments came immediately after his TKO defeat to Pyfer on March 28, but he's not since expressed clarification on his future.

UFC analyst Michael Chiesa doesn't want to urge Adesanya to retire unless he wants too, but it's hard not to look at the record and compare with examples of other historical downfalls.

"It makes you wonder how much he had to put in that last fight with Alex. How much did that take out of him?" Chiesa told MMA Junkie. "I hope people don't forget how great he is. It's like the B.J. Penn thing. People forget how great B.J. Penn was because of the skid that he went on and kind of the same thing with Tony Ferguson. I just hope that Izzy doesn't fall into that category, because he was incredible.

"Especially now, with respect to Khamzat Chimaev, he's a great champion, but he hasn't fought since August. You have to appreciate Izzy while you had him because he fought so much. Whoever the next guy was in line, he never said no. Yes, at all times. Was fighting every three months in main event, in big spots. To me, one of my favorite fights of all fighters."

Adesanya started his MMA career with a 20-0 record. He's 6-5 since the 2020s decade began, however, and he is in the thick of a difficult stretch of results.

To hear more from Chiesa, check out his complete appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn above.