MMA News

Tag: Israel Adesanya

  • UFC Legend Weighs In On Israel Adesanya’s Future After Third Straight Loss

    UFC Legend Weighs In On Israel Adesanya’s Future After Third Straight Loss

    Israel Adesanya isn’t finished with his UFC career just yet — at least, that’s the belief of a UFC Hall of Famer.

    Once revered as one of the most dominant UFC middleweight champions, “The Last Stylebender” now finds himself in a turbulent chapter of his career, enduring one of the roughest stretches of his professional run with three consecutive setbacks.

    Most recently, Adesanya fell victim to a second-round knockout at the hands of rising contender Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia, which took place last Saturday at the anb Arena in Riyadh.

    Several fans and analysts are now speculating that the 35-year-old Nigerian-born Kiwi has surpassed his peak and should consider hanging up the gloves. However, former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier isn’t ready to write him off just yet, believing Adesanya still has more fights left in him.

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, “DC” offered a candid assessment of Adesanya’s future in the Octagon while breaking down the UFC Saudi Arabia headliner.

    “I believe that Adesanya is done fighting for titles, but what I do not believe is that Adesanya is done as a fighter,” Cormier said. “What I saw in round one was enough for me to believe that he could still compete. What I do believe, though, is that Israel Adesanya has earned the right to fight lesser competition right now but also less rounds.”

    Cormier went on to emphasize that “The Last Stylebender” remains one of the UFC’s top draws, possessing the skills to mount a comeback. He believes Adesanya should be given more chances to compete in three-round matchups.

    “He could fight on co-main events and would still add value to a pay-per-view. It doesn’t always have to be in those five-round main events. But when you saw what he did last weekend, Saudi Arabia, sold out, big gate, now you know why Adesanya is still being put in those positions. But in that first round I saw enough to say he can still compete. He looked fast, he looked sharp, but it’s not the speed that’s gone from Adesanya. It’s the ability to see things coming, that quickness, the vision, and when you get hit as you get older, you go down.”

    Adesanya has competed in 12 title fights, securing an 8-4 record across his total of 18 UFC appearances. “The Last Stylebender” first relinquished his middleweight title to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, only to reclaim it in a dramatic rematch at UFC 287. However, his reign was short-lived, as he lost the belt once more to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.

  • Darren Till Defends Israel Adesanya Amid UFC Losing Skid: ‘He Should Be Worshipped!’

    Darren Till Defends Israel Adesanya Amid UFC Losing Skid: ‘He Should Be Worshipped!’

    Darren Till has come to Israel Adesanya’s defense following the former two-time champ’s latest loss.

    The defeat in the main event of UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia marked Adesanya’s third consecutive setback and has led to some criticism from corners of the fanbase. Having lost four of his last five fights, Adesanya faces increased scrutiny. Till, who also endured a losing streak before exiting the UFC, has dismissed any negative talk about “The Last Stylebender” as unwarranted.

    In a passionate social media post, Till responded to claims that Adesanya’s supposed “downfall” should be analyzed, expressing frustration with his lack of appreciation for Adesanya’s accomplishments.

    “I have just read a comment on an MMA page saying the downfall of Israel Adesanya needs to be studied!!!!!!!!! Can everyone on here who is not an absolute moron understand that statement!!!!!! I am trying so hard to understand it but can’t… I’m so confused… What downfall????”

    Till acknowledged that his career didn’t meet expectations but strongly disagreed with applying the same narrative to Adesanya.

    “I’ve seen people comment about downfalls, studies, etc.… all that sh*t like ‘the downfall of Darren Till needs to be studied.’ I get that. I should have excelled more in the UFC than I did, but some certain factors didn’t let me… But now, I swear I cannot even fathom that I have just seen a comment saying Israel Adesanya’s downfall needs to be studied. Me and Izzy aren’t friends, I wouldn’t even say I’m his biggest fan outside of the octagon, but that’s got f*ck all to do with what that man has achieved in this sport. He was a f*cking wrecking machine at middleweight. No one could beat him. At one stage, he looked unbeatable in his title reign. He made Paulo Costa look like a baby—who, by the way, had a war with Yoel Romero. He absolutely bodied Robert Whittaker. IZZY was an absolute wrecking machine in his day. He is without a doubt one of the middleweight GOATs, and it’s not even up for debate. In fact, he could lose his next five fights, and it wouldn’t change a f*cking thing about his GOAT status.”

    Till also criticized modern MMA fans, arguing that they let personal biases affect their opinions of fighters.

    “But these MMA fans today are so f*cking dumb. IQ of about 10. I just look and think, oh my f*cking god. Hope is lost. A man like IZZY should be worshipped among MMA fans and the UFC. He’s literally one of the all-time greats. You don’t have to like him. No one gives a f*ck, in fact. But we pay to watch fighting, and if it’s fighting we are talking about—MMA as per se—Izzy was one of the best.”

    Till also pointed to Colby Covington as another example of a fighter whose skills are often overlooked due to his polarizing personality.

    “Problems nowadays are all these dumb c*nts on here let their emotions take over the facts. So if someone doesn’t like a fighter’s personality, they say they’re sh*t. Prime example: Colby Covington. You all hate him, so you all say he’s sh*t. He’s this, he’s that. Colby Covington is a top-tier f*cking division wrestler. The motherfcker runs up mountains. He lives and breathes the sport. He’s an absolute savage. Cardio for days like I’ve never seen. But because he acts like a complete fool, everyone likes to say he’s sh*t, acting on their own personal emotions towards him. Use are all f*cking dumb. Dumb as fck. Over and out!”

    As for Adesanya, he has remained quiet about his fighting future following the loss.

  • VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Fails To Replicate Alex Pereira’s Iconic UFC 300 Feat

    VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Fails To Replicate Alex Pereira’s Iconic UFC 300 Feat

    After being one of the most dominant UFC champions ever, Israel Adesanya has now lost four of his last five fights in the promotion. While the losses to Alex Pereira, Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland came in title fights, Nassourdine Imavov became the first fighter to beat “The Last Stylebender” in a non-title fight.

    Unsurprisingly, Adesanya dominated the first round with a tactical approach. Using his reach advantage and feints, the former UFC middleweight champion landed a few heavy kicks on the body and limbs, keeping his opponent unsettled.

    Izzy, who usually starts slow and relies on counter-striking, could be seen putting the pressure on Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia. “The Sniper” only landed a solid uppercut in the first round and failed to secure any takedowns.

    Things took a sudden turn in the second round, though. Adesanya started with a high pace yet again but suffered an eye poke 20 seconds into the round. Marc Goddard stepped in to check if the former champ wanted time to recover but was asked to let the fight continue.

    To everyone’s surprise, Imavov knocked down Adesanya in the very next exchange after the eye poke and got the TKO win. After the fight, fans could not help but draw parallels to Pereira’s UFC 300 main event against Jamahal Hill. The challenger hit “Poatan” in the groin which led to Herb Dean stepping in like Marc Goddard to check on the affected fighter.

    Just like Izzy, Pereira shrugged away the referee and in the very next exchange, knocked out Hill with a left hook to defend his UFC light heavyweight championship. Considering “Poatan” and “The Last Stylebender” are long-time rivals, it was interesting for many fans how both of them stopped the referee from intervening but got completely opposite results right away.

    The tweets embedded below show just two of the many fans who believe that Izzy failed to recreate Pereira’s iconic UFC 300 KO win:

    https://twitter.com/ElonovMMA/status/1886048511734780333

    As usual, Adesanya has no excuses for his KO loss to Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia. And of course, he wasn’t trying to copy his former rival by not allowing Goddard to stop the action during his fight. However, considering his long history with Pereira, it’s nonetheless amusing how their stories were intertwined yet again.

  • Israel Adesanya’s Coach Breaks Down KO Loss To Nassourdine Imavov

    Israel Adesanya’s Coach Breaks Down KO Loss To Nassourdine Imavov

    Israel Adesanya’s striking coach has pinpointed the crucial mistake that cost him his fight against Nassourdine Imavov.

    “The Last Stylebender” found himself overwhelmed by Imavov’s relentless assault, ultimately succumbing to a knockout loss in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia last Saturday at anb Arena in Riyadh.

    The momentum shifted early in the second round when Adesanya protested an eye poke but chose not to take a timeout. Before he could properly reset, Imavov capitalized, landing a devastating right hand. Seconds later, a barrage of ground-and-pound forced the referee to step in and stop the fight.

    During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Adesanya’s striking coach, Mike Angove, praised Imavov for executing a thoughtful game plan and capitalizing on the moment to claim the victory.

    He also highlighted that the former UFC middleweight champion’s decision to forgo the timeout after the eye poke prevented him from resetting, which eventually led to the knockout.

    “The name of the game, particularly in small gloves: You can’t make mistakes,” Angove said. “We made a mistake. Nassourdine, I would say, with his team, recognized when we made that mistake and they jumped on it – which means they have to have planned. So you’ve got to congratulate them for that. Izzy got poked in the eye. There was a break. Izzy didn’t want to take the break – was just keen on getting on with it. But in doing that, he didn’t reset as you normally would and create some space.

    “That means you’re still in the firing zone, and then you want him to keep the pressure on. It’s just one of those things. It just happens. He felt he was doing well in the fight and wanted to keep that pressure on, and Nassourdine caught him switching – beautiful right hand that resonated around the stadium and he couldn’t recover from that. It was right on the button, and then he followed up with a left hook against the cage and the referee came and stopped it.”

    Adesanya’s reign as the 185-pound champion came to an end when he lost to Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in September 2023. He then suffered another setback in his attempt to regain the title, falling short against the reigning champion, Dricus Du Plessis, at UFC 305 this past August

  • Michael Bisping Says ‘Israel Adesanya’s Time At The Top Is Done’ After UFC Saudi Arabia Defeat

    Michael Bisping Says ‘Israel Adesanya’s Time At The Top Is Done’ After UFC Saudi Arabia Defeat

    Israel Adesanya aimed to get his career back on track in his latest fight but suffered his third consecutive loss after a brutal knockout at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov in the UFC Saudi Arabia main event.

    The former two-time UFC middleweight champion fell to the rising French contender following previous losses to reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis and ex-titleholder Sean Strickland.

    Another former middleweight champ in Michael Bisping acknowledged Adesanya’s achievements in the aftermath but expressed doubts about his ability to reclaim the title.

    “The biggest takeaway is that it’s over,” Bisping said on the UFC Saudi Arabia post-fight show (h/t MMA Fighting). “Israel Adesanya’s reign as champion, I don’t think will come again. I say that with the greatest of respect, and I truly mean that. An original. An incredible fighter. A legend of the sport. A future Hall of Famer. But his time at the top is done.”

    Bisping pointed to the cumulative toll of years of fighting and training as a major factor in his decline. 

    “A long career at the highest level brings a lot of wear and tear, not just from fights but from training camps,” Bisping explained. “The training camps are worse than the fights. A fight might last a few rounds, and we’ve seen Adesanya dominate opponents with leg kicks and precise striking. But that’s not how training works. You don’t improve unless you’re pushed — getting taken down, wrestling, dealing with ground and pound, getting choked out.

    “You tweak ankles, take punches, and endure constant physical strain. When you train at the highest level, it takes its toll. Yes, he’s absorbed some tough shots in the octagon, including tonight, but it’s the years of preparation leading up to this that become the real challenge.”

    Adesanya outlined his intention to take some time away from the sport before deciding his next step.

  • Francis Ngannou Sends Supportive Message To Israel Adesanya After Third Straight Loss At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Francis Ngannou Sends Supportive Message To Israel Adesanya After Third Straight Loss At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has told friend Israel Adesanya to keep his chin up following another setback inside the cage this past Saturday.

    After back-to-back losses at the hands of Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, Adesanya returned to non-title, non-pay-per-view competition on Feb. 1.

    The ex-middleweight kingpin headlined the UFC’s second visit to Saudi Arabia, where he was tasked with stalling the rise of Nassourdine Imavov to avoid the first three-fight skid of his career.

    “The Last Stylebender” ultimately failed in that regard, with his strong opening round being rendered null and void by a thunderous right hand from the Frenchman seconds into the second frame, which soon led to a TKO stoppage inside anb Arena.

    Though understandably frustrated with another defeat, Adesanya didn’t appear too disheartened when reacting to the knockout soon after. And he’s also not short on supporters sending encouraging words, including a prominent one in the form of Ngannou.

    “Unforgiving sport. Champ one day, champ forever,” Ngannou wrote on X. “@stylebender, we love you, man, and will always stand by your side.

    “Congrats to @imavov1 for his amazing performance.”

    Ngannou and Adesanya once ruled over their respective divisions in the UFC at the same time, forming a close bond as two of three reigning African champions on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Alongside the third, Kamaru Usman, “The Last Stylebender” walked out behind Ngannou for the Cameroonian’s memorable boxing debut opposite former WBC champion Tyson Fury back in October 2023.

  • ‘That’s How The Game Goes’ – Israel Adesanya Watches Back Knockout Loss To Nassourdine Imavov

    ‘That’s How The Game Goes’ – Israel Adesanya Watches Back Knockout Loss To Nassourdine Imavov

    Israel Adesanya sought to get his career back on track in his latest fight after suffering losses to reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland.

    However, the former two-time UFC middleweight champion suffered his third consecutive defeat after a brutal knockout at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov in the UFC Saudi Arabia main event.

    “The Last Stylebender” looked sharp early but was ultimately caught with a decisive blow seconds into round two.

    Late in the fight, an inadvertent eye poke from Imavov occurred. Adesanya had the option to take time to recover, but instead, the Nigerian-New Zealander chose to continue fighting. Moments later, he was rocked by a massive punch, which marked the beginning of the end.

    In the immediate aftermath, Adesanya appeared unhappy with the stoppage. Following his third straight loss, he shared a video on social media where he rewatched the fight’s finish.

    “Fair. Fair game,” Adesanya said after reviewing the stoppage. “Fair game. F*ck. … I’m still alive. That’s how the game goes.”

  • Khabib, Makhachev, & Other Fighters React As Nassourdine Imavov Knocks Out Israel Adesanya At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Khabib, Makhachev, & Other Fighters React As Nassourdine Imavov Knocks Out Israel Adesanya At UFC Saudi Arabia

    In the biggest fight of his life, Nassourdine Imavov has come through — and he’s called his shot for a crack at gold.

    Even in a fight where many were picking against him, Imavov performed in a big way, stunning the world with a second-round stoppage of former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia.

    Adesanya took complete control of the opening round, showing flashes of his vintage self with the way he was striking and defending his French counterpart’s takedown.

    Imavov, however, massively turned things around just seconds into the second round. “The Sniper” rocked Adesanya with a right hand, putting him against the fence and to the ground. There, the 29-year-old dropped several seconds of harsh ground-and-pound until the fight was halted 30 seconds into the second round.

    Nassourdine Imavov Pulls Off Stunning Knockout Of Israel Adesanya At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Imavov is now unbeaten in his last five and has won four straight, previously defeating the likes of Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze.

    Adesanya, meanwhile, has now lost three straight. This was his first non-title fight since 2019, coming into this fight off back-to-back middleweight title fight losses against Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Nassourdine Imavov TKOs Israel Adesanya

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Nassourdine Imavov TKOs Israel Adesanya

    The latest UFC Fight Night took place Saturday in Saudi Arabia, and MMA News has you covered with all of the action!

    After a pay-per-view inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome  — and before focus turns to the UFC’s second numbered event of the year in Sydney, Australia — the MMA leader staged its sophomore event in Riyadh after arriving there last summer.

    Robert Whittaker took headlining honors for the UFC’s debut card in Saudi Arabia, and this time a familiar face of his made the walk last. Off the back of consecutive defeats to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was back in non-title, non PPV competition.

    “The Last Stylebender” failed to avoid a third straight loss at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia, with rising Frenchman Nassourdine Imavov landing a thunderous knockout inside the anb Arena on Feb. 1.

    Before they shared the cage, welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page moved up for a one-off middleweight scrap with fellow striking specialist Shara Magomedov. The Brit returned to winning ways, taking the Dagestani’s 0 on the scorecards.

    Setting the stage for the headliners were a number of notable names, including heavyweight powerhouse Sergei Pavlovich, bantamweight entertainer Vinicius Oliveira, and ranked flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius.

    With the event concluded, see below for the full results, followed by all the highlights.

    UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov Results & Highlights

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight Main Event: Nassourdine Imavov def. Israel Adesanya via TKO (punches): R2, 0:30
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Michael Page def. Sharabutdin Magomedov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
    • Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Bantamweight: Vinicius Oliveira def. Said Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Lightweight: Farès Ziam def. Mike Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov def. Kaan Ofli via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
    • Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev def. Thomas Petersen via KO (punch): R1, 3:12
    • Lightweight: Terrance McKinney def. Damir Hadžović via TKO (punches): R1, 2:01
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Mayra Bueno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Featherweight: Bogdan Grad def. Lucas Alexander via TKO (punches): R2, 4:22
    • Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Jamal Pogues via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

    Hamdy Abdelwahab Def. Jamal Pogues

    Bogdan Grad Def. Lucas Alexander

    Jasmine Jasudavicius Def. Mayra Bueno Silva

    Terrance McKinney Def. Damir Hadžović

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1885718234499887442

    Shamil Gaziev def. Thomas Petersen

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1885724125890547964

    Muhammad Naimov Def. Kaan Ofli

    Farès Ziam Def. Mike Davis

    Vinicius Oliveira Def. Said Nurmagomedov

    Sergei Pavlovich Def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik

    Michael Page Def. Sharabutdin Magomedov

    https://twitter.com/Haduuuucken/status/1885765147379081708

    Nassourdine Imavov Def. Israel Adesanya

    https://twitter.com/FIGHTZSS/status/1885775139666559246

  • Ex-Fighter Says Israel Adesanya Has ‘Something To Prove’ At UFC Saudi Arabia After 2 Straight Losses

    Ex-Fighter Says Israel Adesanya Has ‘Something To Prove’ At UFC Saudi Arabia After 2 Straight Losses

    Israel Adesanya’s UFC journey has been filled with highs and lows, but his career is far from over — not just in his eyes, but also in the eyes of Matt Brown.

    Adesanya is coming off back-to-back losses, first dropping a decision to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 before suffering a submission defeat to Dricus Du Plessis last August in an attempt to reclaim the middleweight title.

    Now, he is set to face Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of the second UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia. When he does, Brown believes the former champion has something to prove.

    “He’s still there,” Brown said on the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer. “I think him going back to feeling like he has something to prove again is going to pay a lot of dividends for him.”

    Brown sees Adesanya’s mindset as a key factor in his return and believes it signals what could happen on Saturday.

    “I think he just loves to compete,” Brown said. “Doesn’t really care who it’s against, and you’ve got to love that. Obviously, the UFC loves that. The fans love that. But what it tells me is that he has a good mentality of not letting other people’s opinions affect him [mentally].

    “That’s a gigantic thing, especially at the level where he’s at, where everybody’s in his ear. Everybody has an opinion on what he’s doing. He’s getting pulled left and right all the time, and to be able to block all that out and stay true to being a martial artist—that’s a powerful dude right there.”

  • UFC Fight Night: Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    Before heading to Australia to stage its second pay-per-view of 2025 next weekend, the mixed martial arts leader has Fight Night business to attend to in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    The main event presents an opportunity for Israel Adesanya to return to winning ways following consecutive defeats to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis. To avoid a three-fight skid in his return to non-title bouts, the Nigerian-New Zealander must stall the rise of Nassourdine Imavov.

    Before that, welterweight contender Michael “Venom” Page will move up for a one-off middleweight scrap with Shara Magomedov. With the in-form Dagestani showing his striking prowess since joining the UFC, Saturday’s co-main event promises to be an entertaining stand-up battle.

    Elsewhere, the likes of Sergei Pavlovich, Vinicius Oliveira, and Jasmine Jasudavicius will all be in action.

    UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov takes place on Saturday, February 1, at the anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card begins at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT.

    Check out the full weigh-in results below.

    Main Card:

    • Middleweight: Israel Adesanya (185lbs) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (185lbs)
    • Middleweight: Sharabutdin Magomedov (185lbs) vs. Michael Page (185.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich (249lbs) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (252lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov (135.5lbs) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (135lbs)
    • Lightweight: Mike Davis (156lbs) vs. Farès Ziam (155.5lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov (145.5lbs) vs. Kaan Ofli (145lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev (260lbs) vs. Thomas Petersen (263lbs)
    • Lightweight: Damir Hadžović (155.5lbs) vs. Terrance McKinney (156lbs)
    • Women’s Flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius (125lbs) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (126lbs)
    • Featherweight: Lucas Alexander (148.5lbs)* vs. Bogdan Grad (145.5lbs)
    • Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab (260lbs) vs. Jamal Pogues (264lbs)

    *Lucas Alexander missed the featherweight limit by 2.5 pounds, forfeits 30 percent of his purse to Bogdan Grad

  • Israel Adesanya Ahead Of UFC Saudi Arabia: I Could Lose ‘My Next 10 Fights’ & My Legacy Wouldn’t Be Affected

    Israel Adesanya Ahead Of UFC Saudi Arabia: I Could Lose ‘My Next 10 Fights’ & My Legacy Wouldn’t Be Affected

    Regardless of the result this weekend — and in any future fight, for that matter — former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes his legacy in mixed martial arts is safe.

    Adesanya established himself as an all-time great at 185 pounds with a lengthy first title reign and an emphatic regaining of the gold against Alex Pereira to achieve two-time status.

    But the days of his dominance over the division appear to be behind him, with the Nigerian-New Zealander coming off consecutive defeats at the hands of Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.

    Looking to make it three losses on the bounce is Nassourdine Imavov, who is set to battle Adesanya in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia. If the Frenchman achieves the feat, questions over “The Last Stylebender’s” future will no doubt arise.

    One thing that won’t be questioned, according to Adesanya, is his lasting legacy on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “I feel honestly, God forbid if I lose my next 10 fights, it wouldn’t affect my legacy,” Adesanya told reporters during media day in Riyadh. “I put pressure on myself. Don’t get me wrong, when it comes time, I will put pressure on myself. If [Imavov] doesn’t feel the pressure good on him, but he’ll find out.”

    It remains to be seen what the future holds for Adesanya and how many more battles he’s got left inside the Octagon.

    For now, his focus will be 100 percent on having his hand raised inside anb Arena and recording his first victory since April 2023.

  • Nassourdine Imavov Predicts Israel Adesanya’s Mindset Heading Into UFC Saudi Arabia Main Event

    Nassourdine Imavov Predicts Israel Adesanya’s Mindset Heading Into UFC Saudi Arabia Main Event

    Nassourdine Imavov is preparing for his next challenge as he faces Israel Adesanya in the main event of the second UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1.

    Imavov is currently on a three-fight winning streak, with his most recent victory coming against Brendan Allen in Paris, France last September.

    “The Sniper” thought Adesanya looked good against Dricus Du Plessis before getting submitted in round four at UFC 305 the previous month.

    Days ahead of their fight in Riyadh, the Frenchman stated that he doesn’t buy into the narrative that the former UFC king’s ability and motivation has depleted with age. Instead, he expects a very dangerous opponent. 

    “I don’t think he’s getting older,” Imavov said media day. “If you look at his fight against DDP, he was doing very well. In my opinion, he was winning the fight before the submission. So, I think he’s going to come very focused, very hungry.

    “Even though I don’t focus too much on him, I focus more on myself, what I’m going to do, the shape I’m going to be in the fight, and I hope he’s going to be in the best shape so I can beat the best Israel Adesanya.”

  • Israel Adesanya Insists Lack Of Title Doesn’t Make Nassourdine Imavov Fight At UFC Saudi Arabia Unimportant

    Israel Adesanya Insists Lack Of Title Doesn’t Make Nassourdine Imavov Fight At UFC Saudi Arabia Unimportant

    Israel Adesanya’s journey in the UFC has been marked by triumph and adversity. Now, he will look to get back on track when he fights Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of the second UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia. The bout is scheduled for Feb. 1 in Riyadh.

    After dropping his first pro-MMA loss at UFC 259 against Jan Błachowicz in an attempt to claim the light heavyweight title, he rebounded by successfully defending his middleweight belt against Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier.

    However, he was dethroned by Alex Pereira at UFC 281, only to win it back thanks to a knockout victory over Pereira at UFC 287. He would suffer a decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 and then a submission defeat to Dricus Du Plessis last August in his bid to reclaim the middleweight crown.

    “Just because there’s not a belt on the line, I don’t want to diminish this fight like it’s not important,” Adesanya said during Wednesday’s media day. “This is still an important fight for me. Again, I’m saying I’m doing this for myself. I’m kind of being selfish.

    “Like, I fight for myself, I fight for my team, my family, and my real fans, but this one I’m putting myself first. I’m trying to do this one for myself, so it’s really important to me.”

  • Michael Bisping Describes ‘Likely’ Outcome Of Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Michael Bisping Describes ‘Likely’ Outcome Of Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov At UFC Saudi Arabia

    Israel Adesanya has the backing of a fellow former UFC middleweight champion ahead of his return to action in the Middle East this weekend.

    Adesanya is set to headline the MMA leader’s second visit to Saudi Arabia, coming in the form of another UFC Fight Night card in Riyadh on Saturday.

    In his return to non-pay-per-view, non-championship assignments after consecutive defeats to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, “The Last Stylebender” is tasked with stalling the charge of a rising up-and-comer in Nassourdine Imavov.

    While his opponent comes into the contest riding momentum from three straight wins, Adesanya plans on showing there’s life in the old dog yet. And former champ Michael Bisping, for one, expects him to do just that.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Bisping explained why he’s picking the Nigerian-New Zealander to emerge victorious inside anb Arena on Feb. 1.

    “More than likely Israel Adesanya gets a decision,” Bisping said. “I think he uses the jab, I think he lowers his base, I think he’s probably pissed off and a little bit embarrassed. Israel Adesanya, when you’re the champion of the world, when you’re defending the belt so many times and you literally think your sh*t don’t stink and you can beat everybody, you do get a little bit embarrassed. Your pride takes a hit when you lose three out of the last four and you see the middleweight division moving along without you.

    “Over five rounds, I do believe Israel Adesanya wins via decision,” Bisping continued. “I think he maintains range, keeps his distance, moves around, uses all of the space inside the Octagon, and in Saudi Arabia, Israel Adesanya will be the winner.”

    “The Last Stylebender” will hope to prove Bisping’s assessment correct come fight night and taste the winning feeling for the first time since his memorable knockout of Alex Pereira to return to the middleweight throne in April 2023.

  • Robert Whittaker Shares What Israel Adesanya Must Avoid ‘At All Costs’ In Nassourdine Imavov Fight

    Robert Whittaker Shares What Israel Adesanya Must Avoid ‘At All Costs’ In Nassourdine Imavov Fight

    Israel Adesanya is preparing for his next challenge as he faces Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of the second UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia. The bout is scheduled for Feb. 1 at the anb Arena in Riyadh.

    Adesanya’s journey in the UFC has been marked by both triumph and adversity. His first professional loss came at UFC 259 against Jan Błachowicz in an ambitious attempt to claim the light heavyweight title. Despite the setback, he rebounded by successfully defending his middleweight belt against Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier.

    However, his reign faltered at UFC 281 when Alex Pereira dethroned him. Adesanya later regained the title in spectacular fashion with a knockout victory over Pereira at UFC 287. More recently, his momentum stalled again, first with a decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 and then with a submission defeat to Dricus Du Plessis last August in his bid to reclaim the middleweight crown.

    Ahead of this crucial fight, Robert Whittaker, a former champion and two-time opponent of Adesanya’s, has been working with the Nigerian-New Zealander to prepare. On his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker offered insight into his former rival’s next matchup and Imavov’s strategy.

    “Imavov’s grappling is very good,” Whittaker explained. “He gets the back of just about every opponent he fights. That’s kind of where the fight wins for him. He doesn’t beat Izzy in a five-round striking contest. He takes him down, tries to get his back, and then it’s about whether Izzy defends that position and escapes. Obviously, Adesanya’s game plan will focus on not giving up his back at all costs.

    “Granted, it’s such a clear-cut direction for Imavov to try to achieve,” Whittaker continued. “Just about every fight he’s had, he gets the back, locks in that body triangle, and works from there. I think that’s the fight we’re going to see: Adesanya trying to keep his distance and outstrike him, while Imavov looks to close the distance, push him up against the fence, take him down, and get his back.”

    This highly anticipated bout will test Adesanya’s resilience and ability to adapt as he looks to regain momentum against a dangerous grappler in Imavov.

  • Israel Adesanya Explains How ‘Talking’ To Ex-Rival Alex Pereira Has Helped Him Prepare For Nassourdine Imavov

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has been burying some hatchets in order to streamline all of his “negative energy” toward one individual — Nassourdine Imavov.

    Adesanya returns in the main event of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia, where his first assignment of the new year will come off the back of consecutive defeats in title fights to Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland.

    Ahead of his opportunity to rebound in the Middle East, the Nigerian-New Zealander notably trained with longtime rival and two-time opponent Robert Whittaker. The pair also filmed a preview video for UFC 311, proving that friendship can emerge from tense rivalries.

    And “The Reaper” seemingly isn’t the only former foe whom Adesanya has been conversing with.

    Since following their two-fight kickboxing series with a pair of MMA contests, Adesanya and Alex Pereira have shared a mutual respect for one another. And during an interview with Stake, the ex-champ revealed he’s spoken to “Poatan” in private as he looks to ensure that any and all negative energy that doesn’t focus on his opponent this weekend dissipates.

    “Making peace helps,” Adesanya said. “I’ve been talking a little bit with Alex Pereira (as well as Whittaker). I’ve learnt that whatever doesn’t serve me anymore I can’t hold onto. All the negative energy I have will go to Nassourdine Imavov.

    “I really can’t wait,” he continued. “I’m patiently waiting for the day for the cage door to close and then we can just get it on.”

    Adesanya will hope his newfound approach to dismissing past animosity makes a difference when he enters the cage in Riyadh this Saturday.

  • Israel Adesanya Reflects On Training With Robert Whittaker Ahead Of UFC Saudi Arabia Return

    Israel Adesanya Reflects On Training With Robert Whittaker Ahead Of UFC Saudi Arabia Return

    It’s rare and heartening to see fierce rivals put their animosities aside and unite, and that’s exactly what happened with Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker.

    Adesanya is set to square off against Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia on Feb. 1, to be held at the anb Arena in Riyadh. The upcoming Fight Night event marks a significant shift for the former UFC middleweight champion, as it will be his first non-pay-per-view appearance since July 2018.

    In preparation for his upcoming bout, “The Last Stylebender” had enlisted the help of his former two-time opponent, Whittaker, to refine his game ahead of the fight. Their collaboration went smoothly, as there was never any deep-seated animosity between the two, despite their history inside the Octagon.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Adesanya revealed that “The Reaper,” who is fresh off a first-round knockout loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308, felt the need to revamp his training approach. Initially, Whittaker reached out to City Kickboxing’s Eugene Bareman to gauge their openness to collaboration, and the team welcomed him with open arms.

    The Nigerian-born Kiwi found it a pleasant at the unexpected addition of Whittaker to the camp, noting how refreshing it was to join forces with a former rival rather than remaining adversaries.

    “Having a guy with his skill set, his experience, a new body, new energy at this stage of your career, it’s always nice,” Adesanya said. “Like he said as well, not many people can understand what we’ve done to get to the point that we had. I was really excited to have him pull up and just share energy with me with the whole team.”

    Adesanya went on to say that while preparing to face another skilled striker like Imavov, he found Whittaker’s contributions, even in the brief time he spent at the camp, to be incredibly valuable.

    “Of course, even if he didn’t train with me, having him around would have been beneficial to this camp. Because of the energy he brings… But training with him, hanging out with him, moving with him, definitely picked his brain and we just shared a few ideas, but I can’t wait because I’ll go over there and do the same thing and over the next few years, we’ll be linking up a few more times.”

    “The Last Stylebender” is experiencing the first two-fight losing streak of his career. The slide started with a unanimous decision defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023, a bout in which he also lost his middleweight title.

    Adesanya’s downturn continued at UFC 305 last August, where reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis delivered a crushing submission victory.

  • Dan Hooker Clears Up Misconception Fans Have About Israel Adesanya

    Dan Hooker Clears Up Misconception Fans Have About Israel Adesanya

    New Zealand’s Dan Hooker has been a staple of the UFC roster ever since he made his debut back in 2014. The Octagon has been graced by some great and iconic fighters from Oceania and “The Hangman” was a big part of the new wave that would take MMA in the region to new heights entirely.

    One of those moments that is now looked back on as a pivotal moment in the history of the sport is when Hooker was joined on the roster by a fellow countryman of his and teammate at Auckland’s City Kickboxing. Israel Adesanya arrived in the UFC four years after his long-time gym mate and the two men have produced some incredible moments in front of both home and away crowds.

    They’ve been through a lot together and as someone that knows “The Last Stylebender” better than most, Hooker believes that there is a common misconception about their dynamic. Adesanya has been a superstar from his very first year in the promotion where he racked up four consecutive wins to climb to the top of the 185-pound division.

    As a result, there is a lot that is said or presumed about the former two-time middleweight champion who makes his return this weekend to face Nassourdine Imavov in his first non-title main event since 2019. Hooker recently spoke in an interview with Dom Harvey about the character of his teammate and why people get them the wrong way round.

    Hooker has shown on multiple occasions that he’s a kill or be killed fighter and whilst we have seen that from Adesanya in the past as well, “The Hangman” swears that you won’t find a better person outside of the cage.

    “Without a shadow of a doubt like goes back to the day we die. It’s not one of those friendships where you have to message each other every day…we go through like a lot of the the similar things obviously, I don’t tell the levels that he’s at like the levels of fame that he’s at is absolutely wild and we are very different people.

    “The funny part about it is people think he’s the bad one and I’m the nice one and I’m just like thinking, ‘what the heck?’. Israel’s like one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life. He is actually like a really nice heartfelt dude and I’m just not…Israel Like there’s no malice in it, it’s a competitive sport and he’s got no malicious intent like when he fights.”

  • UFC Saudi Arabia Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Adesanya vs. Imavov, Magomedov vs. Page, & More

    UFC Saudi Arabia Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Adesanya vs. Imavov, Magomedov vs. Page, & More

    UFC Saudi Arabia is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming event takes place Saturday, February 1, at the anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card begins at 2 PM ET/11 AM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 2 PM ET/9 AM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Following consecutive losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, he will look to get back to winning ways by stalling Nassourdine Imavov’s rise.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event between Shara Magomedov and Michael “Venom” Page promises to be an entertaining striking affair. And also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Sergei Pavlovich, Said Nurmagomedov, and Shamil Gaziev.

    UFC Saudi Arabia: Adesanya vs. Imavov Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC Saudi Arabia (as of 1/27), courtesy of DraftKings.

    • Israel Adesanya (-166) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (+140)
    • Sharabutdin Magomedov (-185) vs. Michael Page (+154)
    • Sergei Pavlovich (-305) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (+245)
    • Said Nurmagomedov (-198) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (+164)
    • Muhammad Naimov (-258) vs. Kaan Ofli (+210)
    • Shamil Gaziev (-380) vs. Thomas Petersen (+300)
    • Damir Hadzovic (+285) vs. Terrance McKinney (-360)
    • Mike Davis (-135) vs. Fares Ziam (+114)
    • Hamdy Abdelwahab (-112) vs. Jamal Pogues (-108)
    • Jasmine Jasudavicius (-225) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (+185)
    • Lucas Alexander (+100) vs. Bogdan Grad (-120)
    • Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady (+142) vs. Bolaji Oki (-170)
  • Israel Adesanya On How Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan Will Play Out At UFC 311: ‘Going To Be WrestleMania’

    Israel Adesanya On How Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan Will Play Out At UFC 311: ‘Going To Be WrestleMania’

    Israel Adesanya believes that fight fans are in for a grappling-heavy main event this weekend at UFC 311. At the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will face top contender Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch of their first encounter in 2019.

    With Tsarukyan making his UFC debut in their previous meeting, what surprised so many fans is that he was able to compete with Makhachev in the grappling exchanges which very few have been able to do even if he wasn’t able to secure the win. Both men do their best work on the ground but the biggest difference heading into their second bout is the significant improvements that they have made on the feet over the past few years.

    The challenger has shown that he is a dangerous striker with a wide kicking arsenal in particular which allows him to control the range and keep opponents guessing. His knockout over Beneil Dariush showed that he is able to get the job done without needing to get hold of his opponent to drag them to the canvas.

    Makhachev, on the other hand, has a simple but effective style which has led to him having a lot of success with his boxing, particularly in his last fight against Dustin Poirier where he won a lot of the exchanges against “The Diamond”.

    When breaking the fight down on his YouTube channel, the former two-time middleweight champion acknowledged how both of them have evolved into well-rounded mixed martial artists though it still seems likely that they will look test each others grappling once again. “The Last Stylebender” thinks that regardless of the fact that both men are confident strikers, they will revert to type in this matchup.

    “His striking is looking way more comfortable lately, way more polished. Arman as well… He’s got nice kicks, good hands, very explosive. But yeah, it’s gonna be a wrestling fight. It’s gonna be WrestleMania.”

  • Robert Whittaker Leaves Door Open To CKB Return After Training With Israel Adesanya: ‘Maybe We Can Work Something Out…’

    Robert Whittaker Leaves Door Open To CKB Return After Training With Israel Adesanya: ‘Maybe We Can Work Something Out…’

    It seems that former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker’s visit to City Kickboxing might not have been a one-off.

    Fans witnessed a good sight this week when Israel Adesanya took to Instagram to reveal he’d been training with Whittaker at the Nigerian-New Zealander’s gym in Auckland.

    The pair haven’t always seen eye to eye and were regarded as rivals owing to their two showdowns inside the Octagon, both of which were won by “The Last Stylebender.”

    But with the possibility of a trilogy appearing slim following recent results, the pair have put any and all animosity behind them and linked up within the walls of New Zealand’s renowned gym.

    And the catalyst for that was evidently Whittaker, who explained to The New Zealand Herald the decision to expand his training horizons in the new year in order to evolve as a fighter.

    “We came to the conclusion we needed more bodies, we wanted to experience new training styles, and we started looking at our options,” Whittaker said. “We were looking all over the world; definitely, there’s training out there in the States…but (like) a flash of lightning, (I thought), ‘CKB’s just across the lake – it’s practically home – why don’t we contact them, head over, meet the boys, see if it works, then maybe we can work something out and try form a good relationship.’

    “There is no way I thought we’d be here breaking bread, you know? But here we are, the world’s a funny place,” Whittaker remarked about training with Adesanya. “I’m happy for it because, just being open to ideas, to broadening horizons, I’ve met some new boys, I’m getting some new work out of it, and it just keeps things fun; keeps things interesting.”

    Work with an elite name like Whittaker could come in handy for Adesanya, who is just weeks out from his first assignment of 2025.

    After bringing his year-long break from the sport to an end with an unsuccessful title challenge against Dricus Du Plessis last August, “The Last Stylebender” will return to non-title and non-PPV competition when he headlines UFC Saudi Arabia against Nassourdine Imavov on February 1.

    “The Reaper,” meanwhile, is without a date for his next outing in the calendar. He most recently fell to a brutal first-round submission at the hands of Khamzat Chimaev three months ago.

  • ‘Hell Yeah, We Got Goku & Vegeta’ – Fans React As Israel Adesanya Teams Up With Two-Time Rival Ahead Of UFC Return

    ‘Hell Yeah, We Got Goku & Vegeta’ – Fans React As Israel Adesanya Teams Up With Two-Time Rival Ahead Of UFC Return

    Israel Adesanya is pulling out all the stops for his next fight, even if it means joining forces with a former rival to sharpen his skills.

    Adesanya finds himself navigating the toughest stretch of his career to date, with just one win in his last four Octagon appearances.

    Currently on a two-fight losing streak, he first suffered a unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023, a fight where he also relinquished his middleweight crown. The downward trajectory continued at UFC 305 last August, where reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis handed him a submission defeat, deepening the slump for the once-dominant fighter.

    “The Last Stylebender” is now gearing up to headline UFC Saudi Arabia, where he will face Nassourdine Imavov on Feb. 1 at the anb Arena in Riyadh. This highly anticipated showdown marks a notable change for the ex-champ, as it will be his first non-pay-per-view bout since July 2018.

    With the fight just under a month away, Adesanya’s preparations are in full swing. In a surprising turn, he has brought in his former two-time adversary, Robert Whittaker, to assist with his training.

    The 35-year-old Nigerian-born Kiwi recently shared several photos and videos from his sparring sessions with “The Reaper” on social media.

    “‘New year, new friends,” Adesanya wrote on X.

    MMA fans responded to Adesanya’s sparring session with Whittaker, with many humorously celebrating the unexpected collaboration between the two fighters.

    https://twitter.com/L01771/status/1878594624559976691
    https://twitter.com/eldenlordv/status/1878589751055532161
    https://twitter.com/yodalorian9/status/1878596301052645437

    Adesanya and Whittaker first squared off at UFC 243 in October 2019, where “The Last Stylebender” clinched a stunning second-round knockout to seize the undisputed middleweight title.

    Meanwhile, their second encounter took place at UFC 271 in February 2022, where the matchup was far more competitive. Despite Whittaker’s resilience, though, Adesanya ultimately gritted through the challenge and earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory to retain his championship.

  • Caio Borralho Reveals Message From Israel Adesanya About 2025 Fight

    Caio Borralho Reveals Message From Israel Adesanya About 2025 Fight

    Following his win over Jared Cannonier in August, Caio Borralho has been waiting on a huge fight for his next outing. The #6-ranked middleweight has won seven fights in a row since debuting in the Octagon in April of 2022.

    It appeared for a brief moment that the Brazilian might be being lined-up for arguably the biggest fight in the division outside of fighting for the title. He had expressed interest in facing former champion Israel Adesanya following his loss at UFC 305 and it seemed like this option was being presented to “The Last Stylebender”.

    Several months later it was announced that Adesanya will be headlining the UFC’s return to Saudi Arabia on February 1 but it will be against the contender that is one spot higher than Borralho in the rankings, France’s Nassourdine Imavov. During a recent appearance on the Overdogs Podcast, the Fighting Nerds stand out spoke about this fight and gave his thoughts on how it all played out.

    “I think the UFC offered Izzy two fights: me or Imavov,” Borralho said on the Overdogs Podcast. “And then, he suddenly posted a clip studying Imavov’s tape, and I was like, ‘Come on, bro.’ I sent a message to Izzy, and was like, ‘Bro, why you choosing that?’

    “He was like, ‘Bro, we’re going to fight next year. We’re going to dance next year for the belt.’ It’s OK, I respect you if you choose that. I think he chose right. I think Imavov is a better fight for him, and I think Izzy is the favorite in this fight.”

    Adesanya said a similar thing during a recent YouTube video where he said that though Imavov was the only name that he was offered, Borralho was a name on his radar that he would have accepted if this fight was presented instead. “The Last Stylebender” referenced the message that he sent him, saying that he respects Borralho for wanting to test himself.

    Borralho also weighed in with his thoughts on the fight that has been booked for February 1, giving the former champion an advantage when it comes to the five-round duration.

    “Imavov, I think he’s good and all that, but I don’t think he has the cardio for five rounds,” Borralho said. “I don’t think he has the best mentality for five rounds. He gets frustrated a lot into the fight, and he fought a three-round fight with Brendan Allen in Paris and it was like a boring fight.

    “They were tired since the first round, and I think if he does the same thing with Izzy, Izzy is going to pick him apart. I think he’s good at fighting guys that are shorter than him. I don’t think he’s good when he’s fighting guys who are taller than him.”

  • Israel Adesanya: ‘I Almost Forgot How Great I Was’

    Israel Adesanya: ‘I Almost Forgot How Great I Was’

    Israel Adesanya is gearing up for his next challenge as he faces Nassourdine Imavov in the headliner of the second UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia. The fight is set to take place on February 1, 2025, at The Venue in Riyadh. Despite focusing on the bout ahead, Adesanya hasn’t forgotten the obstacles he’s encountered on his path to greatness.

    Once undefeated with a 20-0 record and a dominant reign as middleweight champion, Adesanya’s journey has been marked by highs and lows in recent years. His first professional defeat came against Jan Błachowicz at UFC 259 in an attempt to claim the light heavyweight title. Following this setback, he successfully defended his middleweight belt against Marvin Vettori, Robert Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier.

    Adesanya’s reign faltered at UFC 281 when Alex Pereira dethroned him, but he reclaimed the title in emphatic fashion with a stunning KO of Pereira at UFC 287. However, his momentum took another hit when Sean Strickland defeated him by decision at UFC 293. Adesanya then fell short again this past August, losing to Dricus Du Plessis by submission in a bid to regain the title.

    Now, Adesanya views his upcoming fight against Imavov as a pivotal step toward title contention. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Adesanya reflected on his skills and resilience:

    “Because I can – and I’m really, really, really good at it. I almost forgot how great I was, but then recently I just realized like, ‘Fck, I’m good at this sht.’ I forget because – reasons, but yeah, it’s good to remind yourself. I keep saying, ‘Ya’ll must have forgot.’ F*ck, I almost forgot.”

    Adesanya emphasized his commitment to improvement and showcasing his full range of skills in mixed martial arts:

    “I love the way things are playing out. It’s about me and just improving and really showing what I can really do in the full range of mixed martial arts. You’ve got a motherf*cker swinging at you, trying to take your head off – you better be up.”

    Reflecting on his career, Adesanya said:

    “I’ve achieved my dreams in this game. I still have some more dreams to achieve, but the main ones I have (achieved). (I want to) just enjoy this sht. I’m going to definitely get a submission (before I retire). That’s definitely a big one. I don’t even care about the belt. I want to get someone’s fcking ankle or neck.”

    Adesanya’s fight against Imavov could reignite his path to reclaiming UFC gold, as he continues to push the boundaries of his career and legacy.