Competing in his first non-title fight in six years, former two-time
middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya returned to the Octagon in the UFC Saudi Arabia headline looking to make another run at the 185-pound crown. But Adesanya’s road back to the belt will force him to go through dangerous Dagestani standout Nassourdine Imavov.
Having won three straight against Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen, Imavov goes into the biggest fight of his MMA career thus far determined to hand ‘The Last Stylebender‘ his third loss in a row and solidify himself as the next man in line for a shot at middleweight gold.
Round 1
Adesanya opens with a head kick followed by a calf kick. Imavov fires a leg kick right back and the two fighters continue to trade attacks on one another’s lead leg for the opening minute. Adesanya throws a combination punctuated by a high kick that Imavov blocks. Imavov shoots in for a takedown against the fence and briefly gets Adesanya to the mat, but he can’t keep the ‘Stylebender’ there. Izzy goes back to attacking Imavov’s leg and Imavov again clinches up. Adesanya lands a combination on the break.
Adesanya lands with a jab. Imavov tries to respond with a left-right combo and Adesanya counters with a right of his own near the cage wall. Adesanya goes back to the leg and Imavov fires an uppercut that pops the two-time titleholder’s head back. Imavov shoots for another takedown against the fence. Imavov tries to change levels, but Adesanya defends and circles away with 20 seconds to go.
Adesanya throws a question mark kick followed by a body kick that lands right before the horn.
Round 2
Adesanya jabs to the body and then connects with a stinging jab. Imavov fires back with a vicious overhand right hand that puts the ‘Stylebender’ on the mat. With Adesanya laid out against the fence, Imavov fires a follow-up left uppercut that puts Adesanya face down on the mat. Imavov follows it up with some ground-and-pound strikes that force the referee to step in and call for the stoppage.
Official Result: Nassourdine Imavov def. Israel Adesanya via TKO (overhand right to ground and pound) at 0:30 of Round 2.
Check Out Highlights From Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia:
this was the moment that changed EVERYTHING 👀
Imavov beating Adesanya for the UPSET of the YEAR #UFCSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/RlJxZvnQx3
— Degenerate George (@DGen_Media) February 1, 2025
OVER IN AN INSTANT 😳@Imavov1 wins by Round 2 TKO at #UFCSaudiArabia!
[ @RiyadhSeason | #RiyadhSeason ] pic.twitter.com/pHEhFFNqSl
— UFC (@ufc) February 1, 2025
NASSOURDINE IMAVOV GETS THE BIGGEST KO OF HIS CAREER https://t.co/5ncZW5qPdG
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) February 1, 2025
Nassourdine Imavov Post Fight Interview #UFCSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/YmyLqUCAjK
— CornerKaos (@CornerKaos) February 1, 2025
