Israel Adesanya, UFC 276 press convention Credit score: Alex Behunin/Cageside Press
UFC Saudi Arabia featured a shorter 11-fight card and kicked off at an earlier time for North American followers. The co-main and primary occasions featured a pair of promising middleweight showdowns that seemingly shocked many. The principle occasion, between former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov, was the one battle from the primary card to finish with a stoppage. And within the co-main occasion, a veteran striker in Michael Web page outmaneuvered Shara Magomedov at hand “Bullet” his first skilled MMA loss. Some attention-grabbing matchups to come back out of the losers on this card as there are a few veterans in eerily related conditions.
Israel Adesanya
Nassourdine Imavov dropped and completed Israel Adesanya at hand ‘Style Bender’ a loss in his first battle and not using a UFC belt on the road since 2019. Adesanya briefly questioned the stoppage earlier than displaying an aesthetic show of sportsmanship together with his competitor.
Israel entered the battle ranked at #2 within the UFC’s middleweight division whereas Imavov got here in at #5.
Adesanya has now misplaced 4 of his final 5 fights. That was his third loss in a row. This was his first battle off a PPV card since 2018. Undoubtedly could possibly be a change of tide right here for Adesanya, he turns 36 this yr and has been by means of many wars within the octagon. Adesanya’s fight sports activities profession is way from over, however Izzy’s subsequent battle will probably be a check to see if he’s nonetheless at the moment competing on an elite stage.
What higher battle for Adesanya then to go to an previous foe like Paulo Costa. Paulo is simply outdoors middleweight’s high 10 at #11. Costa has additionally misplaced three of his final 4 fights. Costa’s solely victory since August of 2019 was towards Luke Rockhold in August of 2022. “The Eraser” final fought this previous June when he dropped a break up choice to Sean Strickland. Loads of widespread opponents shared and an similar document within the final 4 fights. The pair’s first assembly confirmed simply how elite Izzy is, but it surely was additionally earlier than he suffered his first loss in MMA within the following battle. That defeat by the hands of Izzy was Costa’s first loss in MMA. Appears like this is able to be an attention-grabbing one to revisit and it will be check to reevaluate the place Adesanya is at at the moment.
Adesanya’s subsequent battle: Paulo Costa Rematch
Shara Magomedov
Michael Web page outclassed Shara Magomedov to win a unanimous choice in a technical chess match within the co-main occasion of UFC Saudi Arabia.
A bitter capsule for Magomedov to swallow as Web page is coming off a loss to Ian Garry at welterweight final June. However undoubtedly not a loss to hold his head about as MVP is as accredited as a point-fighting model striker because it will get.
Magomedov got here into this battle simply ranked at #14 within the UFC’s middleweight division whereas MVP was ranked at #15, within the 15lbs. lighter, welterweight division.
Shara’s subsequent battle must be towards one other rising star that had a misstep in his most up-to-date bout. What a couple of battle with Ikram Aliskerov? Ikram went 2-0 within the UFC with two first spherical finishes earlier than stepping in to face Robert Whittaker final June on brief discover. The bout didn’t go Aliskerov’s approach, however he answered the decision towards a former UFC champion. Ikram was imagined to face a standard opponent in Antonio Trocoli however the bout was cancelled. Aliskerov was imagined to be on UFC Saudi Arabia however his opponent, Andre Muniz, withdrew due to passport Points. This battle might actually form the way forward for the division but when it’s not the path the UFC want to go in at the moment, they might all the time match Shara up towards a man like Chris Curtis.
Magomedov’s subsequent battle: Ikram Aliskerov or Chris Curtis
Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Jairzinho Rozenstruik gave up a unaimous choice to Sergei Pavlovich in what many followers within the area felt was a lackluster heavyweight bout. Rozenstruik, very similar to his opponent, regarded hesitant to have interaction as he dropped his second bout in 5 fights.
Rozenstruik entered the bout ranked at #9 within the UFC’s heavyweight division whereas his opponent was ranked at #4.
Sticking to an earlier loser’s version for this choose. It nonetheless looks like a strong matchup for Rozenstruik to tackle Serghei Spivac who was completed by Jailton Almedia a few weeks in the past at UFC 311. Heavyweight actually is a crowded division on the high ranks. These two additionally share widespread opponents and outcomes with Ciryl Gane (loss), Jailton Almeida (loss) and Tai Tuivasa (win). Making the battle make all of the extra sense, together with the time frames matching up.
In Rozenstruik’s efficiency Saturday, Pavlovich’s grappling assault was a big a part of what triggered his loss. Spivac’s specialty is his floor recreation, however would he be capable of get previous the multifaceted placing of Rozenstruik?
Rozenstruik’s subsequent battle: Serghei Spivac
Stated Nurmagomedov
The wheels fell off on Saturday for Stated Nurmagomedov as he began off robust however ran right into a cardio situation late in his battle with Vinicius Oliveira. The bout scored Combat of the Evening honors because the back-and-forth bantamweight scrap was excessive paced from begin to end. The unanimous choice defeat stings just a little extra as Stated has not competed within the UFC since October of 2023. Nurmagomedov has had 4 fights canceled since March of 2023 together with his withdrawal being the first cancelation explanation for three of these bouts.
Regardless of the timeframe, Stated has misplaced two of his final three fights and is 7-3 within the UFC since signing in 2018. matchup for Stated shifting ahead could be a battle towards Victor Henry. Victor was final in motion again in November when Charles Jourdain submitted him within the second spherical. Henry is 3-2, 1 NC within the UFC since signing in 2022. Victor has wins over Raoni Barcelos, Tony Gravey and most just lately, Rani Yahya. Though Herny is 37, he’s a whole fighter who’s a problem for many on the bantamweight roster and he has confronted strong competitors.
Nurmagomedov’s subsequent battle: Victor Henry
Mike Davis
Mike Davis had his four-fight win streak snapped by Fares Ziam to start out the primary card of UFC Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The unanimous choice defeat was Mike’s first defeat since his 2019 submission loss then-lightweight Gilbert Burns. Davis is coming off a bicep tear final yr that compelled him out of a battle with Drew Dober. And now this.
Davis is a enjoyable fighter, and one other enjoyable fighter fought on the undercard of UFC Saudi Arabia, Terrance McKinney. Terrance scored a primary spherical TKO over his opponent, Damir Hadzovic, and has now received three of his final 4 fights.
McKinney has additionally fought each Dober and Ziam, though he was capable of submit the latter of their 2022 bout. This battle might match up with time-frame could possibly be one which followers might actually wish to see. To not point out, fireworks.
Mike’s subsequent battle: Terrance McKinney
