“I’ll relax for a little bit, just help the teammates who have fights coming up, ” Israel Adesanya had said following his last defeat in Saudi Arabia. The French-Dagestani standout Nassourdine Imavov had handed the former middleweight champion his third consecutive UFC loss, prompting some critics to label it the “downfall” of his once legendary career. Yet Izzy appears unfazed. The former middleweight champion has dropped four of his last five Octagon outings, leading him to step out of the spotlight and return to Auckland. In New Zealand, Adesanya remains focused on a quieter routine, keeping a low profile and even attending UFC 312 in Sydney, where he reunited with rival-turned-ally Alex Pereira.

The duo has long pledged to train together as they map out the next phase of their care

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