Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya returns to action this Saturday against rising contender Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Even if the event has no title on the line, the stakes are sky-high for both fighters who are trying to establish themselves among the elite middleweights.
Adesanya's Crossroads
Israel Adesanya (24-4) is in unfamiliar territory. It’s his first non-title tussle since besting Anderson Silva in February 2019, and his first non-pay-per-view foray since 2018. More worryingly, the former middleweight kingpin is facing the prospect of his first losing skid in more than a decade of fighting, across MMA, kickboxing, and boxing.
Adesanya, who has lost his last two fights, to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis, acknowledges that the fight is important for his legacy but says he doesn’t feel pressure from outside.
“Middleweight is where I’m at, so I’m chilling, doing my own thing,” Adesanya told CBS Sports. “If that’s how he [Imavov] feels, that’s how he feels. I’ve been here before."
However, Adesanya remains one of the most naturally gifted strikers in MMA, with an ability to control distance and control the pace of fights perhaps unparalleled. A win on Saturday is essential for him to stay in the division’s upper echelon and revive hopes of a second title shot.
Imavov’s Chance to Break Through
Nassourdine Imavov (15-4, 1 NC) comes into this, the biggest fight of his life, on a wave of momentum. The Frenchman will have seen action four times in the past year, proving his versatility and durability against tough competition. If Imavov can beat Adesanya, he could find himself in the fast lane to a title shot at the middleweight belt.
Imavov isn’t intimidated by Adesanya’s pedigree, and he thinks the onus is solely on his opponent.
“The pressure is on him,” Imavov said through a French interpreter. “He’s already lost two on the trot. Now he’s fighting a lower-ranked opponent. He does not want to lose three times in a row. I can tell he hates not being a champion.”
Imavov’s all-around skill set and adaptability make him a threatening matchup. But the specific strength he has to exploit Adesanya’s weaknesses is still a question.
Co-Main Event and Key Fights
The co-main event pits Sharabutdin “Shara Bullet” Magomedov against Michael “Venom” Page. Magomedov is eager to make his mark now in the division following a highlight-reel spinning back fist KO at UFC 308. Page, an accomplished kickboxer and former Bellator star, welcomes the test.
“He has a flashy style but I’ve faced fighters like him many times before,” Page told CBS Sports. “As great as he is, I know things I can take advantage of.”
Elsewhere on the card, Said Nurmagomedov meets Vinicius Oliveira in a matchup of up-and-coming bantamweight contenders, and Mike Davis faces Fares Ziam in a lightweight fight.
PREDICTION: Adesanya vs. Imavov
Imavov can shift gears between styles and is high fight IQ, but Israel Adesanya is a championship striker with a lot of high-pressure-fight experience. Imavov’s path to success comes by way of capitalizing on errors, and Adesanya himself has exhibited a low-error style and is able to dictate the action.
Adesanya’s most recent defeats were to fighters who had had dominant characteristics — Sean Strickland’s constant pressure and Dricus du Plessis’ physicality. Nothing Imavov does particularly stands out as a skill that will overwhelm the former champion. Adesanya’s superior striking and ability to dictate the pace should carry him to victory.
Prediction: Israel Adesanya by Unanimous Decision
What’s at Stake
For Adesanya, a victory secures his status as one of the middleweight elite and paves the way to future title bids. For Imavov, a win would be transformative, thrusting him into the upper echelon of the division. The weekend’s marquee matchup is an intriguing clash of styles and stakes, with each fighter seeking to make a statement in Riyadh.
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