Israel Adesanya, the former UFC middleweight champion, was close to facing Reinier de Ridder last year after Anthony Hernandez withdrew from their scheduled main event. Although Adesanya expressed interest in stepping in on short notice, an injury prevented him from accepting the fight, and Brendan Allen ultimately replaced Hernandez to face de Ridder.
Adesanya openly shared his disappointment about missing the opportunity, noting that the fight held significant appeal for him, especially since he was already in training and preparing for a bout. The timing of the injury, however, meant he had to pass on the chance.
Adesanya Reflects on the Lost Opportunity and Challenges of Short-Notice Fights
On his YouTube channel, Adesanya reflected on how the injury derailed his plans, saying,
“I was gonna fight last year, but then I got injured in the gym.”
He continued,
“That opportunity got taken away. It was a short-notice fight as well, and I’ve never done one of those, so that would’ve been exciting. RDR, on five weeks’ notice, six weeks’ notice. I was already training, so I was getting ready for a fight. It’s like I’ve never done this before, hop in there. But that moment got taken away from me. In hindsight, that’s the best thing.”
? Israel Adesanya, Former UFC Middleweight Champion
This insight reveals both his eagerness and the tension involved in taking fights with limited preparation, highlighting how the circumstances led to a disappointing missed chance.
Potential Dynamics of a Match Between Adesanya and de Ridder
A fight between Israel Adesanya and Reinier de Ridder would have generated considerable interest given their contrasting fighting styles. De Ridder struggled with stamina and was visibly fatigued when Brendan Allen forced him to retire between rounds. In contrast, Adesanya’s approach typically involves less grappling, which could have tested de Ridder’s endurance differently. Whether de Ridder would have faltered against Adesanya remains an open question among fans.
Adesanya Prepares for Upcoming UFC Seattle Main Event
Though Adesanya missed the chance to fight de Ridder, he is scheduled to compete next at UFC Seattle on March 28, where he will headline against Joe Pyfer. This matchup marks his first fight since February 1, 2025, when he suffered a TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov. Currently on a three-fight losing streak, including defeats to Sean Strickland by decision, Dricus Du Plessis by submission, and Imavov, Adesanya faces pressure to break the skid.
The Reinier de Ridder fight remains an intriguing “what if” in the MMA world, as fans and analysts alike debate how the contest might have unfolded.
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