Israel Adesanya, the former middleweight champion, made his much-anticipated return to the UFC Octagon at UFC 305 in Perth this past Saturday after an 11-month hiatus. However, despite a strong performance, Adesanya ultimately succumbed to a rear-naked choke by Dricus Du Plessis in the fourth round, resulting in a loss.

In the lead-up to the decisive moment of the fight, Adesanya surprised fans and commentators alike by pointing to the ground, a gesture made famous by UFC 'BMF' champion Max Holloway. Many speculated that Adesanya was signaling his readiness to engage in a wild trading match with Du Plessis, as Holloway had done in his previous fights.

However, Adesanya recently revealed that the true meaning behind his gesture was quite different. In a video on his YouTube channel, he explained that it was actually a response to tripping and rolling his right ankle as Du Plessis threw a strike. Adesanya directed the gesture at his opponent to convey that he had not been rocked or hurt by the strike.

"I didn't want him to think he rocked me with anything," Adesanya stated. "In hindsight, I think he used that moment to capitalize on my momentary lapse in focus and closed the distance on me."

Adesanya's revelation provides a fresh perspective on the widely misunderstood gesture. Max Holloway's spirited exchanges following the gesture had become legendary in the UFC, leading Dutch professional MMA promotion LFL to institute a 'Max Holloway bonus' feature to reward fighters for initiating wild exchanges by pointing to the ground.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, Adesanya remains committed to his fighting career. Addressing the possibility of retirement, the Nigerian-born striker firmly stated, "I'm not f****** leaving." Adesanya even expressed his eagerness to return to the Octagon, feeling that he could fight again as early as next week since he did not sustain any significant damage in the bout.

"I can go again," Adesanya exclaimed after watching the fight. "I still feel good. Like, literally, I could fight this weekend."

The talented fighter is now focused on regrouping and getting back to training. Adesanya aims to make his comeback in the near future, with the specific timeline yet to be determined. Fans can anticipate more exciting moments from Adesanya as he seeks to reclaim his place at the top of the middleweight division.

In the meantime, Adesanya urged fans to appreciate his performances while he is still actively competing, emphasizing his passion for the sport. As he reiterated, "Enjoy me while I'm here, man, enjoy me while I fight."