Hard-hitting UFC middleweight knockout specialist Ateba Gautier has revealed that his dream is to one day share the Octagon with his hero, Israel Adesanya.
The 24-year-old Cameroonian-born fighter has remained unbeaten since making his UFC debut in 2025 after earning his contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024.
Gautier stormed into the middleweight division with three straight knockout victories before proving he could also go the distance, securing a unanimous decision win over Andrey Pulyaev in January 2026. On Sunday, he returned to his devastating best with a second-round knockout of Ozzy Diaz, and when asked who he wants next, Gautier immediately named 2025 Hall of Famer Israel Adesanya.
“My dream fight will be against, respectfully, big brother Israel Adesanya,” Ateba said after his win. “I really want to fight him because since I started MMA, I’ve admired him. I want to face him.
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“I admire him a lot. He is a very good fighter, that’s why I want to face him. It is his African brother who wants to face him.”
When asked if he has ever met “The Last Stylebender,” Gautier made his intentions even clearer.
“I’ve never met him, but I want to meet him in the cage,” he said. “Adesanya is more than famous in Africa – everyone knows him. If you fight in Africa and you don’t know Adesanya, you’re not a fighter.”
Adesanya, a two-time UFC middleweight champion, remains one of the most celebrated African stars in mixed martial arts history, even as his legendary career appears to be entering its final chapter. The Nigerian-born New Zealander has lost his last four fights, with three of those defeats coming by knockout.
His last UFC victory came more than three years ago, on April 3, 2023, when he knocked out longtime rival Alex Pereira to reclaim the middleweight title.
Before suffering his first UFC defeat, Adesanya had built one of the sport’s most remarkable records, winning his first nine UFC fights and compiling 20 consecutive MMA victories. However, his recent form has been more turbulent, with five losses in his last six bouts – four by knockout.
Despite that decline, Adesanya’s legacy as one of the greatest middleweights of his era remains secure. Once the division’s dominant and highly active champion, he may still be willing to test himself against the next generation.
Following his March bout against Joe Pyfer, Adesanya made it clear that retirement is not yet on his mind – potentially leaving the door open for a blockbuster clash with rising African contender Ateba Gautier.
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