Former UFC champion Israel Adesanya opens up about his career plan and reveals where he wants to retire.

Adesanya poses for a fashion campaign. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/Stylebender

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Israel Adesanya does not intend to transition to boxing. A former kickboxer, Adesanya achieved significant success when he moved to MMA, leading to five title defenses as UFC middleweight champion (up to 83,9 kg). Looking to the future, Israel recently revealed in an interview where he plans to end his professional career.

Adesanya revealed in a Q&A session on 'Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA' that he intends to end his professional career in the UFC. The Nigerian doesn't rule out other experiences, but believes he will retire in Dana White's company.

“For me, my career will end in the UFC, I believe. But never say never. I thought about it two months ago, and I always said, 'No, you'd never catch me.' This is the ultimate form of fighting, which is MMA. You use all your limbs, all your weapons. How can I, being one of the guys in this sport who's already at the top, say now, 'Oh, I'm going to dedicate myself to boxing?'”

“I always said no because I felt my legacy was already set. But everyone has a number, and I think I reached mine two months ago. I thought, ‘You know what? That’s too high.’ I don’t think anyone, maybe Turki (Alalshikh), can afford that, but no, I think Darren is doing what he loves outside of the UFC, so I’m going to finish my career at the top, in the UFC,” Adesanya said in a Q&A session on ‘Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA’.

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Many former UFC fighters, such as Anderson Silva and Darren Till , have found a new life in boxing, but Israel Adesanya doesn't plan to follow the same path.

Israel Adesanya's current stage in MMA.

Israel Adesanya is a former UFC champion. Photo: Reproduction/UFC Europe

Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was dethroned by his old rival Alex Poatan at UFC 281 , before avenging the knockout loss and regaining the title at UFC 287. Adesanya hasn't won a fight since then, but his achievements already place him among the possible names for the UFC Hall of Fame.

Adesanya has not competed since his technical knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in February, his third consecutive defeat.

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