‘Not as easy as it seems’: Israel Adesanya reveals the one thing he still wants to achieve in his career

Israel Adesanya has accomplished most of his goals, but there’s one thing he still hasn’t done. ‘The Last Stylebender’ opens up to BRENDAN BRADFORD on what he still needs to achieve.

He’s arguably the greatest UFC middleweight of all time, but the 185-pound title couldn’t be further from Israel Adesanya’s mind as he prepares to fight Nassourdine Imavov in Saudi Arabia this weekend.

The 35-year-old, who has eight middleweight title fight wins on his record, has a much more pressing concern ahead of his first non-pay-per-view fight since July 2018.

He has knocked people out, won by decision and has some of the best highlight reel finishes in the UFC, but he’s still missing one thing on his resume.

“I definitely want to get a submission, that’s on my list,” Adesanya told Code Sports. “And I will get one, mark my words.

“I will get one.”

Adesanya’s striking is so effective that he’s never really had to demonstrate his grappling.

And he doesn’t want his last fight – a fourth round submission defeat to Dricus du Plessis – to be what people remember him by.

Adesanya tapped out to Dricus du Plessis in their title fight last August. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Even if it was just his first submission loss in a 28-fight career.

“It took how long for me to lose by submission?” he asks. “It was my last fight.

“So if people want to say that’s my weakness now, it took how many fights to get there?

“It’s not like it’s as easy as it seems.

“It’s not that I can’t grapple, it’s just that no one’s forced me to have to use it yet.

“But, I look forward to those exchanges with Imavov, because he’ll definitely bring those elements to try and surprise me.”

Aussie middleweight great Rob Whittaker – once a bitter enemy of Adesanya’s, and now a training partner and mate – said his former foe’s grappling prowess was the most surprising aspect of their training sessions in Auckland.

Adesanya says the middleweight belt is the furthest thing from his mind. Picture: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

“His jiu jitsu is much better than people give him credit for,” Whittaker told MMA pundit Ariel Helwani. “I’m looking forward to seeing how that translates going forward into his next fight.

“I don’t know how he’s kept it on the downlow for so long, but it’s much better than what he’s given credit for.”

Beyond submission wins though, Adesanya wants to return to the free-flowing style he fought with when he first burst onto the scene seven years ago.

“It’s just being me and being the best I can be and improving,” he said. “It’s doing it for me. The belt’s not on the line.

“I want for the people around me to eat.

“I just want to go in there and just have fun while I’m there and really be present in the moment.”

Nassourdine Imavov will test Adesanya’s grappling this weekend. Picture: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Which, for The Stylebender, means creativity, right?

“Yes, exactly,” he said. “I just wanna enjoy my craft, my art, and really just create a lot of highlights in this part of my career.

“That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Meaning the belt couldn’t be further from his mind.

For now at least.

“Not really, no,” he said when asked if this was the start of a run back towards the title. “This is what I’m focused on.

“The belt will always circle back around. It does.

“But I’m just focusing on Imavov, and I’m gonna keep winning. That’s what I’m focused on.”

Originally published as ‘Not as easy as it seems’: Israel Adesanya reveals the one thing he still wants to achieve in his career