Israel Adesanya retracts on 2027 comeback date may fight Khamzat Chimaev in 2024

After Israel Adesanya unexpectedly lost the middleweight title against Sean Strickland in September he claimed that he was taking an extended hiatus from the sport until 2027, but he’s now confirmed that was just a bluff.

“Me right now, I’m taking my time,” Adesanya told boxer Derek Chisora in an interview. “In my last few fights, I had four fights in fourteen months as a champion. In the UFC, that’s unheard of. I was the most active champion. Not fighter, champion, in the league.”

“Life has forced me to take some time off and I will. But you will see me soon. I said 2027 and the r*tards out there thought I meant that. But, you’ll see.”

Adesanya’s comments will surely increase speculation that he may make his return to action at the eagerly anticipated UFC 300 event in April, which still needs a lot of big-name fights to live up to the hype.

And adding further fuel to the fire, based on his recent Instagram post it would appear that Khamzat Chimaev is currently campaigning for his next fight to be against the former champ, posting a photo of Adesanya alongside a picture of himself applying a standing rear-naked choke.

Chimaev is still recovering from hand surgery but had given some indication during a recent fan Q&A that he could be ready in time for the UFC 300 event.