Everyone expected to see ‘The Last Stylebender’ at UFC Seattle, but did we see the last of ‘Stylebender’ instead? Saturday night was a pivotal moment for Israel Adesanya. On a three-fight losing streak since beating Alex Pereira in April 2023, ‘Izzy’ was hoping the fight against Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle would help him get back into the win column. If only he didn’t get overzealous…

Starting strong, the former middleweight champ controlled the fight in the first round with leg kicks and a steady jab. He even successfully shut down Pyfer’s initial clinch and takedown attempts. As the fight wore on into the second round, it became increasingly clear that Adesanya was in control, completely damaging Pyfer’s lead leg. But as soon as he smelled blood in the water, Adesanya rushed in, and Pyfer made him pay.

Joe Pyfer landed more effectively in close exchanges, eventually landing a hard right hook that rocked Adesanya and forced him against the fence. The 29-year-old then secured a takedown, transitioned to mount, and took Adesanya’s back from where he unleashed a barrage of punches that forced referee Herb Dean to wave off the fight with just 42 seconds left on the clock. Now, at 36, with a fourth consecutive loss, what or who is next for the man who once ruled the division?

Israel Adesanya might be forced to retire

While ‘The Last Stylebender’ doesn’t plan on hanging up his gloves, former champion Henry Cejudo believes a loss would definitely result in Adesanya’s retirement. 

“Yes,” Cejudo told Kamaru Usman. “It depends on what fashion, but I think so… 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 [are] things that you enjoy. And I think Israel’s already there… So, yeah, I do believe that if Israel does lose, this is his last dance.”

But if Adesanya still intends to continue fighting, Jared Cannonier could be a decent option. Cannonier is currently ranked No. 10 and has lost three of his last four fights. Adesanya once defeated him, so a rematch to help both bounce back makes sense. Other than that, Adesanya needs to look further down the rankings.

That’s where the trouble lies. Even in the lower tier, the up-and-comers could eat him alive. The online folklore about Adesanya’s career says he left the last of his eliteness in his last win against Alex Pereira. And that was a sign of times changing.

Adesanya was dominating everyone, with a gap in skill that seemed unbridgeable. Then came the towering Brazilian who could go blow for blow with ‘Izzy,’ and beat him in the final moments of a fight Adesanaya was comfortably winning. Something had to have shifted in him to pull the lone win over Pereira out of the realm of the impossible. But it may have taken Adesanya’s hunger away, too.

The middleweight division’s most dangerous sniper is now getting caught with shots that he would have seen coming from a mile away in his prime. He is being outworked, not outsmarted, by guys like Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, while the next generation, like Nassouridne Imavov, is too fast for him. The next question is if he can avoid a Tony Ferguson-like skid and get some wins before he hangs up his gloves.

No. 15-ranked Roman Dolidze, who is on a two-fight losing streak, could be an attractive fight for Adesanya. Similarly, he could also fight No. 11-ranked Gregory Rodrigues or No. 12-ranked Christian Leroy Duncan, both coming off recent big wins. Despite those options, experts in the sport feel there’s only one next step for ‘The Last Stylebender.’

Michael Bisping predicts the future for Adesanya

Ahead of tonight’s fight, UFC legend Michael Bisping made a bold prediction regarding Israel Adesanya’s future. Bisping believes age and accumulated damage could now be key factors. 

“The reality is, he’s 36 years old,” he said. “This sport decides when you retire. The sport retires you, and you don’t retire from the sport.”

Looking ahead, Bisping didn’t mince words about the stakes. 

“If ‘Izzy’ loses this one, I think that’ll be the end of his career.”

While acknowledging the quality of Adesanya’s recent opponents, Bisping emphasized that repeated losses add up, warning that another defeat may signal it’s “time to walk away.”

Regardless of what Bisping and Cejudo think, Israel Adesanya made it clear in the post-fight interview, “You keep going, again, again, and again.” The only question is, who will be his next assignment?