Nigeria-born New Zealand MMA and kickboxing sensation, Israel Adesanya, might be making an early return to UFC following an unexpected meeting with football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. The two sports icons crossed paths in Saudi Arabia, where Ronaldo encouraged Adesanya to reconsider his hiatus plans. Initially intending to stay out of active competition until 2027, Adesanya seemed open to the idea of debuting in the UFC event in Saudi Arabia scheduled for March 2024, as suggested by Ronaldo. The encounter left Adesanya tempted, as he hinted at the possibility on his social media, indicating a potential comeback to the ring after taking time off to heal from the toll of multiple fights in the past year.