Israel Adesanya says a talk with Georges St-Pierre has put him at ease about life after fighting.
The former two-time UFC middleweight champion plans to fight again. On his YouTube channel, though, he made clear that when he retires, it will be for good.
I’ve seen it in this game. The accolades, the spotlight. When they get done, they may come out of retirement because they don’t know what to do with themselves. I never want to be that guy, so once I’m done, I’m f—- done.
He credited St-Pierre for helping him see what comes next.
Also talking to Georges, he’s like my Fairy Godmother, he just pops up at the most random places… He’ll just drop gems and just kind of let you know where you are, because not many have been to where we’ve been, so they can’t relate, and Georges can.
He’s retired and he’s done it, clocked the game at the highest level. So for me, when he tells me something, I listen. It holds weight.
Adesanya said his work outside the Octagon has given him confidence.
It’s fun and it kind of gives me the reassurance that I’ll be OK after this s—- is over, like, I don’t need to be the guy who needs to fight.
Adesanya has lost four straight since beating Alex Pereira in 2023, most recently a second-round TKO loss to Joe Pyfer in Seattle in March. He has since left City Kickboxing and is training with Alexander Volkanovski in Wollongong, Australia.
His next fight has not been announced. He has been rumored to face Shara Magomedov.
