Israel Adesanya Nearly Accepted Short-Notice Bout vs. Reinier de Ridder Last Year

Israel Adesanya disclosed he nearly accepted an October 2025 short-notice bout, a development that clarifies his timeline ahead of his next main event. The former UFC middleweight champion said he was willing to face Reinier de Ridder after Anthony Hernandez withdrew from a UFC Vancouver headliner. Adesanya is now set to headline UFC Seattle against Joe Pyfer on March 28. He said he had been in training and prepared to step in on five-to-six weeks' notice, but a gym injury kept him out as Brendan Allen ultimately stopped de Ridder in the fourth round. Adesanya, who last fought in February with a TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov, said the missed chance may have been for the best.