Israel Adesanya, one of the most accomplished fighters of his generation, reveals a near-fight with Reinier de Ridder, a former ONE two-division champion. Despite his longest layoff in MMA history, Adesanya initially intended to take time off after a knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov. However, he was set to step in for a short-notice fight against de Ridder this past fall, before an injury prevented it. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Adesanya explains that he was already training for the fight, but the opportunity was taken away. Instead, Brendan Allen faced de Ridder, and Adesanya is now set to fight Joe Pyfer. While this matchup doesn't offer the same novelty as the de Ridder fight, Adesanya still hopes to showcase his skills and break new ground. He emphasizes his desire to shine and display his full array of skills, promising to do things he's never done before. This statement raises the question: Will Adesanya's injury have been a blessing in disguise, allowing him to approach the upcoming fight with renewed focus and determination?
