Israel Adesanya: Coach blames lifestyle for defeat to Sean Strickland

Israel Mobolaji Adesanya, a professional mixed martial artist from New Zealand with Nigerian ancestry, is making a comeback on the trends.

Adesanya has fought five times in less than two years, demonstrating his active schedule.

Not everything has gone according to plan: he was defeated by Alex Pereira in the 185-pound division before viciously winning it back in a rematch.

And then, in a match that everyone anticipated he would win, he lost the Middleweight title to Sean Strickland.

Eugene Bareman, Adesanya's coach, asserts that if "The Last Stylebender" had maintained his focus as a champion should, he wouldn't have burned out.

Speaking to She Loves The Gloves, he said, “No, Israel can’t get burned out fighting three or four times a year.

“The issue is what’s happening between these fights. In my opinion, as a professional athlete, Israel didn’t do what he needed to do between those fights to not be burned out.

“To remain a champion — at the highest level of our sport — you have to live a certain lifestyle, a lifestyle that reinvigorates you.”

Adesanya has hinted that he may take a very long hiatus, but it looks like hhe will be back in 2024.

Will be up against Sean Strickland or Dricus Du Plessis? There aren't any definite dates that Bareman is sharing at the moment.