Daniel Cormier offers measured take on Israel Adesanya after UFC Saudi Arabia loss

Daniel Cormier believes Israel Adesanya still has some fight left in him after UFC Fight Night 250.

Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) suffered his third consecutive loss when he was knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov (16-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in Saturday’s main event at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Adesanya has now lost four of his past five, but Cormier doesn’t think he should retire just yet.

“I believe that Adesanya is done fighting for titles, but what I do not believe is that Adesanya is done as a fighter,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “What I saw in Round 1 was enough for me to believe that he could still compete. What I do believe, though, is that Israel Adesanya has earned the right to fight lesser competition right now but also less rounds.

“Israel Adesanya has earned the right to be in a three-round fight, a fight against someone who isn’t on their way to a championship because you can say what you want about Imavov, this guy’s on a short list of guys that could be in title contention. Truly, there would be no disappointment if, after Nassourdine Imavov won last weekend, the next middleweight championship fight includes him. Granted, there’s Khamzat Chimaev.”

Cormier suggested someone like Brendan Allen next for Adesanya and believes “The Last Stylebender” would still help the UFC do big numbers without having to be involved in the marquee matchup.

“He could fight on co-main events and would still add value to a pay-per-view,” Cormier added. “It doesn’t always have to be in those five-round main events. But when you saw what he did last weekend, Saudi Arabia, sold out, big gate, now you know why Adesanya is still being put in those positions.

“But in that first round I saw enough to say he can still compete. He looked fast, he looked sharp, but it’s not the speed that’s gone from Adesanya. It’s the ability to see things coming, that quickness, the vision, and when you get hit as you get older, you go down.”