Israel Adesayna is ready to come back with a bang, as he makes his final preparations ahead of his return.
The two-time Middleweight Champion sets foot back in the octagon on August 17, as he looks to reclaim UFC gold when he faces the current 185lbs king, Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of the evening. After losing the title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293, Adesayna took an extended break from the sport, having been extremely active throughout his UFC tenure and competing 16 times in the space of 5 years.
A refreshed and rejuvenated Adesanya joined The Rock FM ahead of his UFC 305 headliner against Du Plessis. ‘The Last Stylebender’ first explained his time away from competition, before discussing how he believes it has helped him develop as a mixed martial artist.
“I feel awesome. My body feels great. I feel fresh. Feel clearheaded. It's been a while. By the time I get back in that octagon, it'll be about 11 months of some change, so it'll be almost a year and yeah, a lot's happened in a year. Look, Dan Hooker, I love that guy. He says, ‘Brother rock bottom is as good as any foundation to build on.’
“And I was like, bet, because we know what life is like. So in that year, I've gone through all of this in my own challenges, but then I've climbed back and I do it as a sport sometimes.
“I hit rock bottom on purpose just so I can climb back up. And yeah, my body, my mind, my soul is all refreshed. So I just kind of want to step into the game again, a new man.”
If Adesanya does get his hand raised he will become the first, three time Middleweight world champion in the promotion’s history. As nice it would be for him to hold that accolade, the 35-year-old made no mistake as to his intention when he sets foot back inside the octagon.
“You said, I'm looking to be the first three-time UFC middleweight champion I’m not looking to do that, I'm looking to take his head off. That's all I'm looking to do. I'm going after him and this is no wolf tickets, I feel different.
“So, I just want to go in there and I have nothing to lose. So, like, that keeps me free, that keeps me free. I've already been the champion once, I've done it twice, I'll do the third time. Cool, cool story bro.”
You can watch the full interview below:
