Former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was sitting cage side during UFC 314 on Saturday at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla. to support Alexander Volkanovski attempting to become a two-time UFC titleholder himself.
Volkanovski headlined UFC 314 in a fight for the vacant 145-pound championship against Diego Lopes. Volkanovski held the featherweight championship from December 2019 until losing to Ilia Topuria in February. Topuria vacated the title to move up to the lightweight division.
“We love Miami. Two-time, baby. Beautiful, man,” Adesanya said after Volkanovski was declared the winner. “What the f*ck you going to say now? I love it. I love when a guy like that earns it. F*ck deserves it. He earned it. He’s a great man. He showed why he’s great in and out of the cage. Beautiful to watch.
“I’m inspired,” Adesanya continued. “I’m very inspired.”
Israel Adesanya reacts to UFC 314 while watching live
Inspiration may be just what Adesanya needs. “The Last Stylebender” has lost his last three fights in a row. His coach, Eugene Bareman, recently hinted that Adesanya could retire.
“If he’s doing to fight again then he’s going to fight again,” Bareman said. “If he’s not, we’ve been blessed, I’ve been blessed, the world’s been blessed, the team’s been blessed.”
