Israel Adesanya has been presented with a major opportunity for his UFC comeback fight later this year after his attempt to secure a rematch with Sean Strickland was turned down. Following a surprising knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov and a three-fight losing streak, Adesanya’s return to the octagon has lacked clear opponents.
Reinier de Ridder Proposes a High-Stakes Matchup with Adesanya
Dutch fighter Reinier de Ridder recently extended an invitation for a showdown with Israel Adesanya. De Ridder, who just narrowly defeated Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi, is aiming to strengthen his position as a top contender ahead of title contention. With Dricus du Plessis set to face the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev, de Ridder sees a fight against the former two-time champion and City Kickboxing leader as a meaningful challenge.
He (Israel Adesanya) still has the best record, he defeated (Alex) Pereira in his last fight [sic], and he fights so elegantly,
de Ridder said in an interview with Inside Fighting.
For me, this is a more significant reason to have a fight rather than with a guy who demands it on the basis that he simply hates me,
he added.
Chael Sonnen Criticizes de Ridder’s Choice to Challenge Adesanya
Despite de Ridder’s eagerness to return to competition as early as November, potentially on a packed Madison Square Garden card that may also feature Islam Makhachev’s welterweight debut, his selection of Adesanya as an opponent has drawn criticism. Veteran UFC analyst Chael Sonnen expressed doubt about the relevance and benefits of this matchup for de Ridder’s career progression.
He calls out Israel Adesanya, but he got more specific,
Sonnen stated on his YouTube channel. He acknowledged that it was a “great call out,” but emphasized it was aimed at the wrong fighter.
…And the only reason that’s a problem is that beating Adesanya doesn’t make you a number one contender. But there’s also a representation that RDR (Reinier de Ridder) is not understanding where he’s at.
Following his significant victory over Whittaker, de Ridder cracked the UFC’s middleweight top five and is currently ranked just behind Israel Adesanya.
With Adesanya’s recent setbacks and Strickland refusing to accept a rematch, de Ridder’s proposition offers a potential path back into high-profile competition for the former champion. The outcome of this offer and how Adesanya chooses to respond may impact his trajectory toward reclaiming a title shot, amid a challenging phase in his UFC career.