Israel Adesanya’s UFC return reportedly set for late 2026
Absent for over six months in the UFC, the Kiwi fighter Israel Adesanya is reportedly inching closer to his comeback date. Regarded as one of the most prolific fighters in the sport, Adesanya has remained winless since 2023. After his knockout victory against Alex Pereira in Apr. 2023, he went on to lose to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and […] The post Israel Adesanya’s UFC return…
Israel Adesanya, the renowned UFC fighter, is reportedly preparing to return to the octagon by late 2026, according to recent reports. The Kiwi fighter, who has been absent from the UFC since early 2025, has been winless since his knockout loss to Joe Pyfer in March 2026. Prior to that, Adesanya suffered defeats against Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov.
Following his loss to Pyfer, there were rumors of Adesanya retiring, but he dismissed them. Recently, on The Ariel Helwani Show, it was suggested that Adesanya might face middleweight fighter Shara Magomedov in a highly anticipated bout on December 5, 2026, at UFC Saudi Arabia. Although the fight has not been confirmed, it would be the first clash between the two fighters, with Magomedov boasting a perfect record of one win and no losses in his professional career.
Adesanya, a two-time Middleweight champion and a UFC Hall of Famer, has been fighting for the UFC since 2018, while Magomedov joined the UFC in 2023.
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