Life comes at you fast, especially in the fight game. It doesn’t feel too long ago that Israel Adesanya arrived to the UFC with a rocket strapped on his back, going from debut to undisputed champion in 20 months. It also doesn’t feel all that long ago that “The Last Stylebender” knocked out Alex Pereira in Miami, exacting an elusive act of revenge and capturing the middleweight title for the second time.
In reality, though, that result was nearly three years ago. It also represents the last time Adesanya got his hand raised in the Octagon. Headlining Losses to Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov followed, leaving one of the defining figures in mixed martial arts in unfamiliar waters heading into his main event assignment against Joe Pyfer in Seattle.