In a stunning upset, Israel Adesanya was brutally knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov in his first non-title fight in nearly six years.
The former middleweight champion made his long-awaited return to the contender ranks on Saturday night in Riyadh, facing the rising star Imavov, who had earned notable wins over the likes of Joaquin Buckley and Jared Cannonier on his way to a top-five ranking.
Adesanya’s last non-title UFC fight was in February 2019, when he faced Anderson Silva in a Fight of the Night performance in Melbourne.
Since then, he had claimed the interim title, defended it six times, and reignited his feud with Alex Pereira. However, the Nigerian-born Kiwi entered this fight against Imavov, having lost three of his last four bouts.
Israel Adesanya in action during his fight against Nassourdine Imavov. Photo: Reuters
Despite the buildup, Imavov remained somewhat under the radar heading into the fight, though a win over Adesanya would position him for a potential title shot.
The atmosphere in the arena was electric, with football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo watching from cageside, and Adesanya made his entrance to the octagon with a calm, confident aura, still carrying the respect of a former champion.
He received a handshake from referee Marc Goddard before the fight began.
The first round saw both fighters engage on their feet, with Adesanya defending an early takedown attempt from Imavov before the pair exchanged strikes.
Nassourdine Imanov reacts at the end of his fight against Israel Adesanya. Photo: Reuters
However, the turning point came in the second round. Adesanya, who had been pressing the action, was poked in the eye but chose not to take a break.
He continued to push forward, but it was Imavov who seized control. The Frenchman landed a devastating overhand right that dropped Adesanya to the canvas.
Imavov followed up with a powerful uppercut as Adesanya, visibly dazed, tried to recover.
The Frenchman quickly capitalized, raining down punches on the former champion, forcing the referee to stop the fight. Adesanya, frustrated with the stoppage, was unable to defend himself as Imavov continued his assault.
Nassourdine Imanov drops to his knees in celebration at the end of the fight. Photo: Reuters
After the fight, Imavov expressed his satisfaction, saying through a translator, “I feel so good, I said all week long I was in perfect shape. I proved it that I’m the better striker tonight, now it’s time for me to fight for the belt.”
He dedicated the victory to his family, friends, and coaching staff, adding, “Surround yourself by people who love you and that you love, and you’ll grow up this way.”
following his impressive win, Imavov confidently declared, “There’s no doubt I’m worth the title fight – four victories in one year, it speaks for itself.”
He also took the opportunity to send a message to current champion Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland, who are set to face off in a rematch next week.
Following the win, UFC color commentator Paul Felder praised Imavov for his impressive performance, emphasizing the personal and professional growth he has undergone.
"I loved all of that. The way he is giving a shout out to his family, his friends, his team… especially since he made that decision to make those changes in his career and move in with those guys. It’s paying off so massively for him,” Felder said.
Felder also advocated for Imavov’s title shot, stating, "Based on that performance, give that man a title shot. Hands down. I know there will be crazy people out there saying no. But if you do that to Israel, then give him the shot – he’s next."
He further expressed confidence in Imavov’s ability to defend the belt, citing his consistency and activity in the Octagon.
UFC commentator Laura Sanko added to the buzz around Imavov’s future, revealing that the Frenchman is eager for a rematch against Sean Strickland, who defeated him by unanimous decision in January 2023.
“He really wants that rematch with Strickland. That was a fight where he was not himself, up a weight class, weird circumstances," Sanko noted. "He wants to go out there and right that wrong. The storyline is writing itself, if that is what ends up happening – obviously, a lot has to play out before that happens.”
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