Israel Adesanya is fighting for his MMA career this weekend, so says Henry Cejudo.
This Saturday, Adesanya takes on Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Seattle. It’s a pivotal fight for the former two-time middleweight champion, who is in the worst stretch of his career, having lost three consecutive fights. A loss to Pyfer would not only be his fourth in a row, but it would be Adesanya’s first MMA loss to an unranked opponent, and according to Henry Cejudo, it could mean the end of his career.
“Yes,”
Cejudo told Kamaru Usman on their Pound-4-Pound podcast when asked if Adesanya will retire if he loses. “It depends on what fashion, but I think so. I think when the ship has sailed, the ship has sailed. I think you just come to the realization — and I’m speaking for myself. Maybe it’s not so much the talent, but it’s more the desire, and it’s more of, I want to do other things with my time now. There’s things that you enjoy. And I think Israel’s already there.
“He’s already DJing, he’s doing a bunch of other stuff. Like, he’s already kind of planning for his future. So, when people are already starting to do things, they already know the time is coming. Even for me, I was already in real estate, the content business pretty heavy. So, yeah, I do feel like if Israel does get finished or loses in this fight, I think he’s done.”
Cejudo understands Adesanya’s predicament well. A former two-division champion, Cejudo ended his MMA career on a four-fight losing streak, retiring for the second time after falling short against Payton Talbott at UFC 323 in December. And according to Cejudo, even that was later than he should have done it.
“I knew that it was time to hang it up,” Cejudo said. “I knew that it was time to hang it up like two fights ago, prior to that. Not because of talent or any of that, but just the desire where my time was being given. So, I think if Israel Adesanya is giving his time to the podcast world and the DJ stuff, that’s the stuff that takes a toll on your body. It’s not age. Age is just a number, as they say. It’s the lifestyle.
“So, yeah, I do believe that if Israel does lose, this is his last dance.”
TOP STORIES
Stars. Brock Lesnar reveals how he ended up signing a long-term UFC deal after Dana White ‘wanted nothing to do with me.’
170. Dana White targets Islam Makhachev return for August, shoots down manager comment.
Beef. Maycee Barber reacts to Ronda Rousey’s OnlyFans dig aimed at Valentina Shevchenko, rips “Bullet.”
Prices. Netflix raises prices ahead of Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card.
PFL. Johnny Eblen explains decision to sign new deal with PFL rather than test free agency.
ONE. ONE releases champion Xiong Jingnan, eliminates women’s strawweight division.
GoFundMe. Report: Dana White to cover medical care for school shooting victim.
Farewell. 2 fighters removed from roster following UFC Vegas 114 losses.
VIDEO STEW
Between the Links.
Mike Heck chats with Maycee Barber ahead of high-stakes rematch with Alexa Grasso at UFC Seattle.
Israel Adesanya in Seattle.
Demetrious Johnson and T.J. Dillashaw.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
No Bets Barred.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Some friendships last forever.
Murphy.
Oh?
No more Flow-atan.
Tony Ferguson golfs how you would think he does.
This is aggressive.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I don’t know if Cejudo is right, but he should be right. If Adesanya loses on Saturday, it probably means he got KOed, and if he gets KOed again, it’s time to walk away. And there’s no shame in that. Adesanya is already a Hall of Famer, but a first-ballot one as an individual as well, and one of the best fighters of this generation. Hell of a career. Let’s see if it ends on Saturday.
EXIT POLL
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee of @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and like us on Facebook.
