Israel Adesanya is set to make his comeback when he squares up against Joe Pyfer at UFC Fight Night 271 on March 28.

The former middleweight champion has not fought since his second-round loss to Nassourdine Imavov last February. 

That loss marked his third-straight defeat, making his comeback fight more symbolic: is this the fight that changes things?

Adesanya’s career (24-5) has been on a decline in recent years. 

His last win was when he defeated arch-rival Alex Pereira in April 2023 to regain the middleweight title he lost earlier.

Since then, he has struggled without a win and no longer dominates the UFC limelight. 

The upcoming fight with Pyfer will mark his second non-title fight since he became champion in 2019.

Just last month, Adesanya explained that this phase of his career was about going with the flow, as he was no longer chasing titles. 

That may have been related to his recent performances, but also, after heading the middleweight division for more than four years, it’s only normal to have other aspirations. 

But this does not mean the Lagos-born fighter is done in any way. While it may look like he’s done with title conversations, a win in the March fight, followed by another win later this year, could position him as a title contender. 

Four-straight losses is a record most fighters never come back from, and Adesanya has the chance to prevent that by putting on a good show in Seattle, where the fight is scheduled to hold. 

The outcome of the fight would have an impact on the rest of the career, though the kind of impact depends on how the fight goes.

Still, Izzy may not be thinking about any of that right now, as it only adds to the pressure he’s been trying to avoid. 

Even if he decides to retire today, he would be bowing out as one of the best MMA middleweight fighters of all time. He’s long proven himself, and has gone past the point of having to impress critics and fans.