Yoel Romero offers former UFC rival Israel Adesanya advice amid losing skid

USA Today

19-03-2025

Yoel Romero thinks Israel Adesanya needs to taper down in training if he wants to rebound.
Former UFC middleweight champion Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) is on a three-fight losing skid after suffering a TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov in February.
Romero, who lost a decision to Adesanya in their 2020 title fight at UFC 248, wants to see 'The Last Stylebender' take some time off before fighting again.
'Israel, he needed time, he needed rest,' Romero told Submission Radio. 'That's what I think. He needs to rest a little bit because too much damage. The problem is the UFC doesn't give you time. When the UFC calls you, you need to come because you have a contract.
'Now, he needs to think about training – not too hard, not too hard in the sparring. He needs to go to training like a therapy, recovery for the body. He doesn't need now too much sparring. That is my opinion for Israel. If he wants to be back again, he needs to recover the body. But he's still training very hard. It's not good.'
Adesanya did take almost a year off after his shocking upset loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023. However, Adesanya failed to reclaim his middleweight title when he was submitted by Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 last August. He then returned almost six months later to face Imavov, but fell short once again.
As for Romero, the 47-year-old is still trucking. 'The Soldier of God' takes on Ras Hylton in Saturday's DBX 1 main event at The Hangar at Regatta Harbour in Miami.