Former UFC Champion: Adesanya Will Retire If He Loses in Seattle

Pulse Sports Team 15:37 - 27 March 2026

Henry Cejudo draws parallels between the end of his own career and Israel Adesanya's current slump.

This weekend, Israel Adesanya could be fighting for the future of his MMA career. He is set to face Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Seattle. The bout is crucial for the former two-time middleweight champion, who is currently in the weakest period of his career with three consecutive losses. A potential defeat to Pyfer would not only be his fourth in a row but also Adesanya's first MMA loss to an opponent outside the division's Top 10.

I believe that once the ship has sailed, it has simply sailed. I think you just come to the realization – and I'm speaking for myself. Maybe it's not so much about talent, but rather about desire and wanting to do other things with my time. There are things that bring you pleasure. And I think Israel has already reached that point. He's already a DJ, he's involved in a bunch of other things. He's already planning his future. So, when people start doing other things, they already know the end is near. Even with me – I was already heavily involved in real estate and content creation. So, yes, I believe if Israel gets knocked out or loses this fight, he's done," Cejudo added.

Cejudo understands Adesanya's predicament well. The former two-division champion ended his MMA career with a four-fight losing streak, retiring for the second time after his defeat to Payton Talbott at UFC 323 in December. According to Cejudo, even that was later than it should have been.

"I knew it was time to hang up the gloves," Cejudo stated. "I knew it two fights ago. Not because of talent or anything like that, but simply because of the desire and where my time was going. So, I think if Israel Adesanya is dedicating time to the podcast world and DJing, these are the things that affect your body. It's not age. Age is just a number, as they say. Lifestyle is important. So, yes, I believe if Israel loses, it will be his last dance," he concluded.