Former Champion Adesanya Questions Chimaev's Inactivity as Middleweight Titleholder Ahead of Return

Israel Adesanya has delivered pointed criticism toward current UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev's championship reign, questioning the Chechen-Swedish fighter's inactivity while reflecting on his own approach to title defenses during his dominant run atop the division.

Speaking ahead of his return to action against Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle this weekend, Adesanya expressed frustration with Chimaev's extended absence from active competition since capturing the middleweight crown in August 2025.

"He did well to get the belt, but I'm not sure what's holding him up or why," Adesanya told Paramount's Brian Campbell. "Maybe it was visa issues. I'm not sure. I don't really follow the MMA news as much, so I'm not sure what's holding it up."

The former champion's comments highlight a stark contrast in championship philosophies between the two middleweight stars. While Adesanya maintained an aggressive defense schedule throughout his title reign from 2019 to 2024, Chimaev has remained sidelined for nine months since claiming the belt, finally scheduled to make his first defense against Sean Strickland in May at UFC 328.

Adesanya's critique carries particular weight given his own championship track record. During his five-year reign, the Nigerian-New Zealander never fought fewer than twice per year while holding the title, demonstrating the consistency he believes championship-level fighters should maintain.

"Because I felt like he would be an active champion. He should be an active champion because he's a guy that likes to fight a lot when he was coming up, just like me," Adesanya continued. "But when I got the belt, I didn't let that slow me down. I was active. I was calling out everybody. I was trying to find the best and fight them, so I think he should be doing the same."

The stark difference in activity levels becomes more apparent when examining both fighters' career trajectories. Adesanya fought four times during his 2018 UFC rookie year, establishing a pattern of frequent competition that continued throughout his championship tenure. Even during his most active years as champion, he managed three fights in both 2019 and 2022.

Conversely, Chimaev's career has followed an increasingly sporadic pattern despite his explosive early success. After his legendary 2020 debut featuring three victories in three months, "Borz" has competed just once annually over the past three years, culminating in his current extended championship hiatus.

The timing of Adesanya's criticism adds additional intrigue to the middleweight landscape, as the former champion attempts to rebuild his career following three consecutive losses that stripped him of both his title and top contender status. His upcoming bout with Pyfer represents a crucial step toward potential championship relevance.

Adesanya acknowledges the challenge facing Strickland in his title shot against Chimaev, drawing from personal experience after losing to "Tarzan" in September 2023. However, he believes Strickland possesses the tools necessary for victory under specific circumstances.

"I think he can win if it goes to the later rounds and he doesn't get taken down," Adesanya analyzed. "But Chimaev is a bat out of hell. He's a guy that comes aggressively straight away and Strickland can match that probably, but we'll see."

The former champion also noted the intriguing dynamic created by both fighters' shared training history, suggesting their upcoming contest may have already been tested behind closed doors.

"And they've trained together, so this is probably something that already happened in the gym that we are not privy to," Adesanya observed. "So yeah, it'll be interesting, and I look forward to watching it and reacting to it on YouTube."

As Adesanya prepares for his own return to action, he faces questions about his three-fight losing streak and whether he can recapture the form that made him one of the sport's most dominant champions. His focus remains on performance rather than results, believing that quality displays will naturally lead to championship opportunities.

"I'm very determined to win and it's not even about the losing skid," he explained. "It's just to perform. I really want to perform, because when I perform, wins come, the gold comes. So yeah, my main focus this weekend is just to perform, and I know I can do that."

Adesanya's commentary on Chimaev's championship approach reflects broader questions about title holder responsibilities and the balance between activity and strategic timing in modern mixed martial arts competition.