TLDR
- Israel Adesanya was offered a short-notice fight against Reinier de Ridder last year after Anthony Hernandez withdrew
- A gym injury prevented Adesanya from accepting the fight, which would have been his first short-notice bout
- Brendan Allen took the fight instead and defeated de Ridder when he retired on the stool
- Adesanya is currently on a three-fight losing streak, with his last fight being a TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov in February 2025
- The former champion is scheduled to fight Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle on March 28, 2026
Sources: EssentiallySports | MMA Fighting | BJPenn.com
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has revealed he was set to fight Reinier de Ridder on short notice last year, but a gym injury prevented the matchup from happening.
Adesanya shared the news on his YouTube channel, explaining that he was offered the bout when Anthony Hernandez was forced to withdraw from a main event fight against de Ridder. Brendan Allen ultimately took the fight instead.
“I was gonna fight last year, but then I got injured in the gym,” Adesanya said. “That opportunity got taken away.”
The former champion expressed excitement about the potential matchup, which would have been his first short-notice fight. He said the bout would have taken place on five to six weeks’ notice.
“It was a short-notice fight as well, and I’ve never done one of those, so that would’ve been exciting,” Adesanya explained. “RDR, on five weeks’ notice, six weeks’ notice. I was already training, so I was getting ready for a fight.”
Adesanya added that despite wanting the fight, he believes the injury was ultimately for the best. “In hindsight, that’s the best thing,” he said.
The Striker vs Grappler Matchup
A fight between Adesanya and de Ridder would have presented a classic striker versus grappler matchup. Adesanya is known for his elite striking and kickboxing background, while de Ridder built his reputation on submission expertise.
De Ridder ended up fighting Brendan Allen instead, which turned into a grappling-heavy contest. The fight ended when de Ridder gassed out and was forced to retire on the stool between rounds.
However, the dynamic against Adesanya likely would have played out differently. Adesanya’s takedown defense and preference for striking would have meant less grappling exchanges compared to the Allen fight.
Adesanya’s Current Situation
The former middleweight champion is currently on a three-fight losing streak. He lost a decision to Sean Strickland, then suffered a submission loss to Dricus Du Plessis.
Most recently, Adesanya was stopped by TKO against Nassourdine Imavov on February 1, 2025. That fight marked his last appearance in the octagon.
Despite the losing streak, Adesanya has his next fight scheduled. He is set to headline UFC Seattle on March 28 against Joe Pyfer.
The Seattle main event will mark Adesanya’s return after more than a year away from competition. The fight gives him a chance to snap his losing streak and build momentum.
Adesanya was already in training camp when the de Ridder opportunity came up last year. He said he was preparing for a fight when the short-notice offer arrived, which made the timing seem perfect.
The revelation comes as Adesanya enters the later stages of his career. He has previously discussed having fewer than 10 fights remaining before potential retirement, possibly by 2028.
For now, Adesanya’s focus remains on his upcoming bout with Pyfer at UFC Seattle. The fight will be his first since the loss to Imavov over a year ago.
