Imagine one of the most dominant fighters of his era, Israel Adesanya, stepping into the octagon on short notice against a two-division champion like Reinier de Ridder. It almost happened. But here's where it gets controversial... Was this near-miss fight a blessing in disguise, or a missed opportunity for MMA history? Let’s dive in.
Adesanya, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished fighters of his generation, is currently experiencing the longest break of his MMA career. Since his knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Riyadh last February, he’s been on the sidelines. But this wasn’t exactly part of the plan. In a candid conversation on his YouTube channel, Adesanya revealed that while he intended to take a breather after the defeat, he was on the verge of accepting a short-notice fight last fall—until an injury derailed those plans.
“A year without fighting—I’ve never done that before in this game,” Adesanya admitted. “It’s uncharted territory, but it’s exciting. I came home and eased back into my routine. There was no urgency to jump back into the ring. I wasn’t injured from the fight itself; I just needed time to reset and focus on myself.”
And this is the part most people miss... That short-notice fight was against none other than Reinier de Ridder, the former ONE two-division champion. De Ridder was set to headline UFC Vancouver in October against Anthony Hernandez, but an injury forced Hernandez out. Adesanya was already training and ready to step in on just five to six weeks’ notice—a challenge he’d never attempted before.
“It would’ve been thrilling,” Adesanya said. “I was prepared, and the opportunity was there. But then I got injured in the gym, and the chance slipped away. At the time, I wasn’t happy about it, but looking back, it was probably for the best.”
Instead, Brendan Allen took the fight, defeating de Ridder in the fourth round. Meanwhile, Adesanya recovered and is now set to face Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Seattle on March 28. While this matchup doesn’t offer the same novelty as the de Ridder fight, Adesanya is determined to break new ground.
“My ego still craves the spotlight—I want to shine,” Adesanya explained. “I feel like fans haven’t seen the full extent of my skills yet. I’m not just here to win; I’m here to showcase abilities I’ve never displayed before. It’s about making money, making memories, and making history.”
Here’s the controversial question... Was Adesanya’s injury a stroke of luck, sparing him from a risky short-notice fight against a formidable opponent? Or was it a missed chance to prove himself in uncharted waters? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate MMA fans won’t want to miss!
