Israel Adesanya, UFC 276 Ceremonial Weigh-Ins. Credit score: Alex Behunin/CagesidePress
Israel Adesanya is about for his first non-title bout in years, as he returns to headline UFC Saudi Arabia.
Adesanya will face Nassourdine Imavov in the principle occasion of the Struggle Night time card, set for the ANB Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 1, 2025.
“The Last Stylebender” was final seen being submitted by Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in August. The battle was an try and reclaim the title he’d misplaced in his earlier bout, in opposition to Sean Strickland.
The losses to Du Plessis and Strickland mark the primary time in Adesanya’s MMA profession that he’s misplaced back-to-back fights. But mixed together with his November 2022 loss to Alex Pereira, Adesanya is simply 1-3 throughout his final 4 fights. The lone win got here within the rematch with “Poatan,” which had Adesanya briefly reclaim his 185lb title.
The ex-champ’s final non-title motion got here in 2019.
Nassourdine Imavov has been circling the highest of the middleweight division for some time, however has but to safe the signature win that would actually cement his standing as a title contender. A victory over Israel Adesanya, nevertheless, would nearly definitely present that. The French middleweight has gained three straight, in opposition to Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen.
