Israel Adesanya Faces Mandatory Retirement if He Cannot Beat Shara Bullet
Israel Adesanya’s back is against the wall. The former two-time UFC middleweight champion has dropped four straight fights, most recently a second-round TKO loss to Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle in March 2026. Now, per Ariel Helwani, Adesanya is expected to meet Sharabutdin “Shara Bullet” Magomedov in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5.
The bout has not been officially announced by the UFC, but if it is booked, here are four reasons the Stylebender finally snaps his losing streak.
Level of Competition Finally Drops
Adesanya’s four-fight skid has come exclusively against elite opposition. Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, Nassourdine Imavov, and Joe Pyfer are all ranked contenders or champions, with three of those losses coming by stoppage.
Shara Bullet presents a different challenge entirely. The 32-year-old Russian is 17-1 in his career and 6-1 in the UFC, but his lone defeat came against Michael Page, a fighter who was recently released.
Adesanya would enter the fight as the more accomplished and battle-tested competitor, as Magomedov has never faced anyone near Adesanya’s pedigree.
Additionally, Magomedov is blind in one eye. If Adesanya cannot beat someone who is partially blind, it would be best for him to retire as soon as possible.
Stylistic Matchup Favors the Striker
Shara Bullet is a dangerous striker with 12 of his 17 wins coming by knockout, including a spinning backfist finish of Armen Petrosyan.
However, his striking defense has shown holes against more technical opponents.
In his only loss, Michael Venom Page was able to use in-and-out movement and blitzing counters, which caught Magomedov every time he tried to close the distance and land dynamic, damaging strikes.
Adesanya remains one of the most sophisticated strikers in UFC history. According to official UFC records, his 13 knockdowns are tied with Anderson Silva for the most in middleweight history, and his 92% significant strike output comes from distance.
Magomedov’s aggressive, highlight-reel style will give Adesanya tons of counter-striking opportunities. The Nigerian-born New Zealander has historically feasted on opponents who overcommit.
Full Camp Without City Kickboxing Baggage
Following his loss to Pyfer, Adesanya made a major career change by leaving longtime coach Eugene Bareman and City Kickboxing. The split ended a partnership that produced two title reigns but had grown stale.
A new coaching setup can revitalize a fighter’s approach. Adesanya has spoken openly about needing a fresh perspective as he enters the final chapter of his career.
For a striker as cerebral as Adesanya, removing familiar patterns and introducing new voices could unlock adjustments that opponents haven’t seen before.
Desperation Breeds Focus
Adesanya has been explicit about his refusal to retire on a losing streak. Speaking after the Pyfer defeat, he declared, “I will keep going again and again and again and again. I’m not leaving. You can’t stop me.”
He reiterated that sentiment on the Mighty Cast podcast with Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson, saying he refuses to let his current run define his legacy.
Adesanya has acknowledged, “I don’t want this to be the writing of my story, because I feel like, yes, I took part in this, but this is not what I wanted to write. This is not how I wanted to end. This is not how I wanted to conclude this chapter of my life.”
“So that’s why I’m still… adamant that the grass is green on this side and I can tend to it, garden it properly and let it be lush and bloom properly,” he told Johnson.
Nothing is official until the UFC announces it. But if the Magomedov fight materializes, Adesanya has a rare opportunity to face a lower-ranked opponent with tons of stylistic vulnerabilities.
Also, it should be noted that Adesanya had a similar opportunity against a far less accomplished fighter in Joe Pyfer, but he was more willing to engage in extended chaotic brawls than he typically is known for. There is still the very real possibility that Magomedov catches Adesanya with a powerful strike from an unorthodox angle and proves me wrong.
While a win wouldn’t erase four straight losses, it would stop the bleeding and buy the 37-year-old another chapter in his storied career.
More MMA News
- UFC Fight Night: Buckley vs. Malott — Date, Time, How to Watch
- UFC Lets Undefeated Star Walk After Perfect 7-0 Run — and His Manager Called It
- ‘Most Paranoid People on the Planet’ — Dana White Fires Back at Alex Pereira’s Cormier Accusation
- UFC Legend Michael Bisping’s Son Suffers First Loss by Knockout
This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.