Israel Adesanya, the former UFC title holder, suffered another back-to-back defeat as he was knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov during the main event of UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 1.
The 30-year-old Frenchman lived up to his nickname, “The Sniper,” landing a lightning-fast precision right hand early in the second round, signalling the beginning of the end for Adesanya.
The decisive moment came just 30 seconds into the second round when Imavov landed a powerful right cross followed by a clean left uppercut and a flurry of ground strikes, leaving Adesanya unable to recover.
The first round was a closely contested affair. Adesanya, fighting in his first non-title bout in six years, utilized his reach advantage to land sharp jabs and connected with effective knees in the clinch.
However, Imavov maintained his composure and bided his time, ultimately delivering the knockout blow that ended the bout.
In the aftermath, Imavov called for a title shot, stating he had earned the opportunity by defeating the New Zealand star.
He will now await the outcome of the middleweight championship fight between current champion Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in Sydney next weekend.
For Adesanya, the defeat could signal the end of his pursuit of another title run. With a Hall of Fame-worthy career that includes a reign as one of the sport’s most dominant champions, this latest setback may prompt the 34-year-old to consider retirement, leaving behind a legacy that few in the UFC will ever replicate.
Nassourdine Imavov’s victory over Israel Adesanya marks a significant milestone in his career and establishes him as a legitimate title contender in the middleweight division.
At just 29 years old, Imavov has shown remarkable improvement since joining the UFC ranks. The win over Adesanya extends Imavov’s impressive streak, following recent victories against top-ranked opponents Brendan Allen and Jared Cannonier.
His ability to finish fights and his well-rounded skill set make him a dangerous threat to anyone in the division.
Adesanya was first dethroned by Alex Pereira in November 2022, won the rematch, and then lost the belt again to American Sean Strickland before suffering a submission defeat to South Africa’s Du Plessis in August 2024.
The defeat marks the first time in six years and 12 fights that Adesanya has competed without a UFC championship on the line.
His professional record now stands at 24 wins (16 knockouts) and four losses in a 13-year MMA career.
