Nigeria-born, New Zealand-based former two-time UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, has made an unexpected prediction around his future in the sport.

According to a report on UK website, The Independent, Adesanya recently hinted that he has more fights left than many fans would expect.

This is as the former UFC champion is preparing for a tough battle scheduled for March 28, 2026, which will see him take on rising contender Joe Pyfer in the main event of a Fight Night in Seattle, US.

“And the question on most lips is whether Pyfer’s heavy hands will neutralise Adesanya’s slick striking and movement, as well as the experience of the former two-time middleweight champion,” The Independent wrote.

“If Adesanya, 36, can see off Pyfer, 29, he will snap a three-fight losing streak, having gone 1-4 in his last five bouts. Meanwhile, American Pyfer will enter Seattle on a three-fight winning streak, having bounced back well from his sole UFC loss in 2024.”

Ahead of next month’s clash with Pyfer, Adesanya talked about his future as a
UFC fighter while speaking on his YouTube channel.

However, while many people believe that the Nigerian-born New Zealander might only have a few fights left in him, that may not be the case after all, according to Adesanya himself.

“Less than 10 [fights left],” Adesanya told his brother. “What, are you surprised?” When his brother responded, saying that he thought the “Last Stylebender” might only have four or five fights left, the former champion responded: “Who knows? I know it’s less than 10, it can’t be past 10.

“So, if I fight now and one more time towards the end of the year maybe, that’s two fights. If I do two fights a year… f***. Next year, I can still fight. 2028 is where I’ll be like… I don’t know yet, I can’t see past 2027. I don’t know.

“I don’t think that far ahead at the moment, but I do glance at it, but I don’t really try and focus on it. I just know I’m on the tail end.

“I can see the finish line. I’ve been seeing the finish line in the distance, but now it’s closer. But who knows at what pace will I get there?”

Adesanya last recorded a win almost three years ago, with the triumph coming back in April 2023, when he knocked out old rival Alex Pereira to regain the UFC middleweight title, avenging his own stoppage loss to the Brazilian from November 2022.