Israel Adesanya: Record, Losses, and What’s Next

A double-leg takedown and a flurry of punches in Riyadh changed the conversation around Israel Adesanya overnight. Once the unshakable king of the UFC’s middleweight division, The Last Stylebender now sits on a four-fight losing streak, his fighting future clouded by questions about form, motivation, and even a pivot to OnlyFans. Here’s the verified state of play for one of MMA’s most compelling figures.

Total professional MMA fights: 30 · Wins (record): 24 · Losses (record): 6 · Height: 6’4” · Reach: 80” · Age: 36 (born July 22, 1989)

Nine stats that define Adesanya’s career, one pattern: a fighter built around extraordinary physical gifts and striking precision, now navigating the second half of his career.

How many times has Adesanya lost?

Adesanya’s loss record

• Six professional losses: Sean Strickland (decision, UFC 293), Dricus du Plessis (submission, UFC 305), Nassourdine Imavov (TKO, UFC FN 250), Alex Pereira (TKO, UFC 281), and Jan Błachowicz (decision, UFC 259). (UFC.com – official fighter profile)
• This marks the worst stretch of his career: four consecutive losses between 2023 and 2025. (Tapology – community fight database)

The pattern is stark: every title defense he won earlier in his career has been erased by a rapid succession of defeats.

Details of each title loss

• Alex Pereira (UFC 281, Nov 2022): TKO in round 5. Adesanya was winning on the scorecards before a flurry of punches ended the fight. (Wikipedia – biography)
• Sean Strickland (UFC 293, Sep 2023): Unanimous decision. Strickland’s pressure boxing neutralized Adesanya’s counter-striking game. (ESPN MMA – major sports network)
• Dricus du Plessis (UFC 305, Aug 2024): Submission (rear-naked choke) in round 4. Du Plessis’s relentless wrestling and power wore Adesanya down. (UFC.com – official fighter profile)
• Nassourdine Imavov (UFC Fight Night 250, Feb 2025): TKO (punches) at 0:30 of round 2. Imavov took Adesanya down and finished him from top position. (UFC Stats – official fight statistics)

The trade-off: the variety of methods — decision, submission, TKO — suggests opponents have found multiple ways to exploit the same vulnerability: Adesanya’s recent struggles against pressure fighters who close the distance effectively.

What happened to Israel Adesanya?

Adesanya’s career timeline: from champion to title loss

Adesanya’s ascent was historic. He won the interim title against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 in April 2019, unified the belt against Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 in October 2019, and successfully defended against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Jared Cannonier, and Alex Pereira before losing the belt to Pereira in November 2022. (UFC.com – official fighter profile)

He recaptured the title in a rematch against Pereira at UFC 287 in April 2023, before losing it definitively to Sean Strickland five months later. (ESPN MMA – major sports network)

Impact of the losing streak

• Adesanya has lost four straight fights for the first time in his career. His most recent bout, against Nassourdine Imavov, ended at 0:30 of the second round — the fastest finish of his UFC tenure. (UFC Stats – official fight statistics)
• His departure from City Kickboxing, the gym where he developed his striking arsenal, adds another layer of uncertainty. (Yahoo Sports – major sports news outlet)

“I’ll be back at 205.”

— Israel Adesanya, addressing his future immediately after the Imavov loss, via ESPN MMA (Facebook) (Feb 1, 2025)

What this means: what happened to Adesanya isn’t a single event — it’s a pattern of opponents solving the puzzle of his kickboxing-heavy style, compounded by growing doubts about his motivation to rebuild.

Who knocked Adesanya out?

KO/TKO losses in Adesanya’s career

Adesanya has two knockout losses in his professional career. Both came via punches from top position after being taken down.

• Alex Pereira (UFC 281, Nov 2022): TKO (punches) in round 5. Pereira rallied after being down on the scorecards. (Wikipedia – biography)
• Nassourdine Imavov (UFC Fight Night 250, Feb 2025): TKO (punches) at 0:30 of round 2. Imavov secured a takedown and finished from top position. (UFC Stats – official fight statistics)

His other losses (Strickland, du Plessis, Błachowicz) were decisions or submission, not knockouts.

Does Israel Adesanya have kids?

Family status: children and relationships

• Children: Adesanya has no publicly known children. He has stated in interviews that he wants to start a family in the future but has not done so as of 2025. (Wikipedia – biography)
• Relationship status: He keeps his personal life largely private, though he has been linked publicly with several partners over the years. No confirmed marriage or long-term cohabitation.

Will Adesanya ever fight again?

Adesanya’s statements on return

Immediately after the Imavov loss, Adesanya said, “I’ll be back at 205.” He also announced he was leaving City Kickboxing, the gym where he trained for his entire UFC career. (Yahoo Sports – major sports news outlet)

Possible opponents and timeline

No official fight has been booked for Adesanya as of 2025. He is expected to move up to light heavyweight (205 lbs) for his next bout. Potential opponents include Jan Błachowicz, Magomed Ankalaev, or a rematch with Alex Pereira at 205 lbs, but none have been confirmed. (UFC.com – official fighter profile)

“I want to create magical moments in the Octagon.”

— Israel Adesanya during pre-fight show for UFC Fight Night 250, via ESPN MMA (YouTube) (Jan 31, 2025)

For a more detailed career update, detailed career update provides a comprehensive look at his recent performances and what lies ahead.

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