Israel Adesanya releases statement following UFC Seattle defeat

UFC legend Israel Adesanya has released a brief statement in the wake of his defeat to Joe Pyfer last weekend.

On Saturday night, Israel Adesanya fell short in his attempt to stop his losing skid at UFC Seattle. Instead, he suffered a TKO loss at the hands of Joe Pyfer, leaving many to wonder how much longer he’s got left in the world of mixed martial arts. Of course, retiring is easier said than done, and many fighters have gone on longer losing streaks than Stylebender and still opted to stick around.

RELATED: Dana White thinks Israel Adesanya still has juice left despite UFC Seattle loss

Still, Adesanya was once such a dominant force in the Ultimate Fighting Championship that it feels odd to see him venturing down this path. He has given a lot to the sport and in return, he has picked up a large fanbase – but the days of him being able to dominate, and perhaps even win at the elite level, may well have come to an abrupt end.

In a recent post on social media, Adesanya had the following to say about his latest setback.

Israel Adesanya reacts to his defeat

“I know it’s hard on my people seeing me fall. I promise you it’s harder on me. Regardless, we respawn and go again.”

Nobody enjoys seeing their heroes fall, especially when they were once able to reach such incredible, amazing heights. Hopefully, for the sake of Izzy, he can dust himself off, get back in the gym, and figure out a way forward.

Do you believe that Israel Adesanya should retire from professional mixed martial arts after his loss to Joe Pyfer? If not, who should he take on next and why? Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!