TLDR
- Israel Adesanya is reportedly scheduled to return at UFC 327 on April 11 in Miami against Joe Pyfer
- Colby Covington announced plans to move to middleweight and called out Adesanya for a fight
- Covington recently defeated Luke Rockhold and also named Sean Strickland as a potential opponent
- Adesanya stated he is no longer chasing titles and wants fun fights reminiscent of his early career
- Both fighters are coming off losing streaks and looking to rebuild momentum in their respective divisions
Sources: EssentiallySports | Wrestling World | Bloody Elbow
Israel Adesanya is reportedly set to return to the octagon on April 11 at UFC 327 in Miami, though the UFC has not officially confirmed the bout. According to reports, Adesanya will face Joe Pyfer in his comeback fight after a recent losing streak.
The timing of Adesanya’s return comes as Colby Covington has publicly called him out for a potential matchup. Covington recently announced plans to move up from welterweight to middleweight, naming Adesanya as one of his primary targets.
Covington showcased his wrestling skills with a victory over Luke Rockhold at RAF05. Following that win, he revealed his intentions to compete at 185 pounds in the UFC.
Covington Eyes Multiple Middleweight Targets
The former welterweight title challenger has created a shortlist of opponents for his middleweight debut. Besides Adesanya, Covington also called out Sean Strickland as a potential opponent.
Covington expressed confidence in his ability to compete at the higher weight class. He cited his superior endurance and elite skills as reasons he believes he can dominate the middleweight division.
Israel Adesanya offered comeback fight by UFC star who hasn’t won in four years https://t.co/1AyjgkQwpE
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 13, 2026
The callouts stem from existing bad blood between the fighters. Covington has a history of animosity with both Adesanya and Strickland, making these potential matchups attractive to fans.
Adesanya has been open about his shift in mindset following recent losses. The former middleweight champion stated he is no longer focused on chasing championship belts.
Adesanya Seeks Fun Fights Over Titles
Instead of pursuing another title run, Adesanya wants fights that remind him of his early UFC career. He expressed interest in entertaining matchups that would be fun rather than solely focused on rankings.
This new approach could make a bout with Covington appealing to Adesanya. A fight between the two would certainly generate attention given their personalities and fighting styles.
However, Adesanya’s reported booking against Joe Pyfer suggests the UFC may have different plans for his return. Pyfer would represent a different type of challenge than a matchup with Covington.
Both Adesanya and Covington are coming off losing streaks and looking to rebuild momentum. Adesanya has lost multiple fights in recent outings, while Covington has struggled in his recent welterweight appearances.
Covington believes his wrestling-heavy style would translate well to middleweight. He feels physically strong at 185 pounds and ready to take on the division’s top fighters.
The potential matchup between Covington and Adesanya would pit a wrestling specialist against one of the sport’s best strikers. Such a stylistic clash would create an intriguing tactical battle.
For now, UFC fans will have to wait for official confirmation of Adesanya’s return. If the UFC 327 date holds true, Adesanya will compete in Miami on April 11 against Joe Pyfer.
