For the first time in his career, former UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya feels like the “old dog” heading into a fight. And for the first time since February of 2019, “The Last Stylebender” finds himself in something other than a title fight.
Adesanya headlines UFC Saudi Arabia this Saturday, taking on Nassourdine Imavov in his first non-title fight since a win over Anderson Silva at UFC 234.
“I said gatekeeper as a joke earlier on. Yeah I feel like the guy, the old dog, then there’s the young guys coming up, trying to prove themselves. So it’s my job to send them back down and let them know, still here,” Adesanya said during Wednesday’s media day.
Despite accepting being the old dog, or perhaps wily veteran, in his upcoming fight, Adesanya isn’t putting an pressure on himself in terms of needing a win. After back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, the 35-year old isn’t concerned with his legacy, knowing it’s secure.
“I feel honestly, God forbid, if I lose my next ten fights it wouldn’t affect my legacy. I put pressure on myself, don’t get me wrong, when it’s time I’ll put pressure on myself. If he doesn’t feel the pressure, good for him, but he’ll find out.”
That said, Adesanya admitted that the fight ahead “is important for me. Not for anyone else. I’m doing this to prove to myself, I’m still evolving in this game, I’m still getting better, and I’m still very dangerous. So yeah, I’m doing this one for me.”
Out of the middleweight title picture for the moment (though perhaps not for long, as Du Plessis and Strickland meet again later this month), Israel Adesanya nevertheless remains focused on middleweight. Despite having made one venture up to light heavyweight, that’s not in the works for the time being.
“I’ve always said that was a side mission. Middleweight’s my weight class,” he stated. “It’s kind of boring without me, it’s time to get back in there and make it fun again.”
Watch the full UFC Saudi Arabia media day appearance by Israel Adesanya above.