During the weigh-in show for UFC 327, where former NFL wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson was making a guest appearance, he expressed his interest in a fight with former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
Johnson does have some combat sports training in his history and even competed in an exhibition boxing match against Brian Maxwell on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul undercard back in 2021. But, for the most part, his athletic experience is not combat sports-based whatsoever.
CHAD OCHOCINCO calls out ISRAEL ADESANYA for a fight at UFC 327! 😳 #chadochocinco #nightcap #israeladesanya pic.twitter.com/IozVWKMTWS
— Fight Party KO (@fightpartyko) April 11, 2026
“I like that! … Izzy, Adesanya, I don’t want any excuses,” Johnson said. “Come get this belt. Come get this belt. Me and you, five minutes, three rounds. Anywhere. Matter of fact, I’ll come to New Zealand. I don’t have a passport. Nevermind. Come to Miami.”
“I would really like the matchup with Adesanya, though,” Johnson said. “I’m serious. To be able to get the best out of me and what I can do, even though it’s not my sport. But I’m good enough to survive and be able to strike. Ground game, eh, shaky.”
(h/t BJPenn.com)
Despite the joking nature of the situation, Johnson seems genuinely interested in a future UFC appearance, and even appeared at the pre-fight press conference earlier this week to ask Dana White for a fight.
Chad Ochocinco just pulled up to the UFC 327 press conference and asked Dana White to get him a fight
“Dana I want a f*****g fight!!!” pic.twitter.com/ep6LWSpejS
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) April 9, 2026