In recent months, the middleweight division has felt unusually quiet, with fewer title defenses and long gaps between major fights. It’s a noticeable shift from just a couple of years ago, when Israel Adesanya was regularly headlining cards and defending his belt against top contenders.

During his time as champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Adesanya built a reputation for staying active—often taking on multiple fights in a year while consistently facing the best in the division. That level of activity, especially in a stacked weight class, is something fans are now starting to look back on differently as the current pace slows.

It’s in that context that Adesanya recently reflected on his reign, suggesting that his consistency may not have been fully valued at the time.

“Look at the middleweight division now… The last active champion was me. People didn’t appreciate it until now. This game is slow and stuck without me.”

From Dominance to Setbacks and a New Chapter Ahead

Adesanya’s run at the top was defined by both dominance and resilience. He defended his title multiple times before losing it to Alex Pereira, a familiar rival who had already challenged him across combat sports.

However, Adesanya responded in emphatic fashion, knocking out Pereira in their rematch to reclaim the belt and reassert his place at the top. It was one of the defining moments of his career but it also marked the beginning of a turbulent stretch. He later lost the title to Sean Strickland in a surprising result, before suffering further defeats against Dricus du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov.

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Now, Adesanya is looking to reset. He is scheduled to face Joe Pyfer on March 28, a fight that could play a key role in determining his path back into title contention. For Adesanya, the goal isn’t just to win it’s to remind everyone what made his reign stand out in the first place.

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