Israel Adesanya poor run of former continued on Saturday night as he suffered his third consecutive loss, this time at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The former middleweight champion was knocked down by a powerful right hand and finished with a barrage of strikes on the ground, forcing the referee to stop the fight in the second round.
Photo by Getty images
Adesanya’s career hit a high point in April 2023 when he knocked out Alex Pereira to regain the UFC middleweight title.
However, after back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, Adesanya came into this fight needing a victory to remain relevant in the title picture.
Unfortunately for the Nigerian-born New Zealander, Imavov’s brutal display ended those hopes.
The first round saw Adesanya showing some promise with effective leg kicks and his trademark footwork.
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He was able to move in and out of range, avoiding Imavov’s power shots for the most part. But towards the end of the opening round, Imavov landed a clean right hand that rocked Adesanya and set the stage for the second.
In the second round, Imavov connected with that same right hand again, this time sending Adesanya crashing to the canvas.
As Adesanya fell, Imavov followed up with a devastating left uppercut, then unloaded a series of strikes on his grounded opponent.
Photo by Getty images
The referee stepped in, halting the action as Adesanya appeared unable to defend himself.
While Adesanya protested the stoppage, it was clear that the outcome was inevitable, with his condition worsening under Imavov’s assault.
NASSOURDINE IMAVOV KNOCKS OUT ISRAEL ADESANYA IN THE SECOND ROUND!!! WOW #UFCSaudiArabiapic.twitter.com/gr08h2RgaI
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 1, 2025
The crowd in the AnB arena was left in stunned silence, and Adesanya, visibly frustrated, slammed the canvas before leaving the Octagon without speaking to the media.
At 35, Adesanya is now facing difficult questions about his future. He has enjoyed a legendary career with five consecutive middleweight title defenses—the second most in UFC history—and victories over some of the sport’s biggest names, including Robert Whittaker, Yoel Romero, and Alex Pereira.
However, with three losses in a row, the road back to a title shot seems daunting.
MMA fans are now left wondering what comes next for the former champion. If he decides to retire, Adesanya’s remarkable legacy would surely earn him a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame.
