If MMA followers weren’t bought on No. 5 contender Nassourdine Imavov (16-4, 1 NC MMA, 7-3, 1 NC UFC) going into the weekend, they need to be bought on him and his standing as a pressure to be reckoned with at 185 lbs now. On Saturday evening, the UFC made its sophomore look in Saudi Arabia to kick off its February schedule for a UFC Struggle Evening on ESPN+.
On the high of the invoice final evening, Nassourdine Imavov met up with former UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya (16-8 MMA, 13-5 UFC). Saturday’s foremost occasion of the night was Adesanya’s second look within the sport since surrendering the middleweight strap in September of 2023 throughout UFC 293 in Australia in opposition to Sean Strickland by the use of unanimous determination after 5 rounds.
Going into the UFC Saudi Arabia foremost occasion of the night versus Nassourdine Imavov, Israel Adesanya had dropped two fights in succession and was making the stroll for his first nontitle foremost occasion since halfway by 2018.
Israel Adesanya Wasn’t Nervous About Nontitle Stakes vs. Nassourdine Imavov Going In
A few month or so earlier than the combat, Israel Adesanya took to YouTube to debate the truth that he wouldn’t have a title on the road in opposition to Nassourdine Imavov this previous weekend.
“Somebody mentioned that to me yesterday and I used to be like ‘No, I nonetheless receives a commission,’” Adesanya talked about in December. “I nonetheless receives a commission, I nonetheless have a referee. It’s two of us in there. There’s a crowd, so it’s not like within the (expletive deleted) Apex or one thing. It doesn’t really feel any completely different. I feel persons are making it out to be one thing like that, how they might react to it. however they’re not in my footwear.”
Going into the weekend, Adesanya was the second-ranked contender within the weight class and had dropped two fights in succession. Whereas “The Final Stylebender” had momentum on his aspect of the ledger within the early going, stuffing an effort at a Nassourdine Imavov takedown, the latter took management because the bout would go on.
Nassourdine Imavov Seizes Momentum in Spherical Two En Path to End
Initially of the second spherical of the scheduled 5, momentum started to swing to Imavov’s column after scoring with a well-placed uppercut late within the opening interval. Whereas Adesanya landed a kick to his adversary’s leg, Imavov countered with a crisp punch to knock Adesanya down.
A flurry of floor and pound pictures pressured the referee to intervene, giving Nassourdine Imavov a well-deserved victory. Time of the knockout: 30 seconds into spherical two. In response to the end, Israel Adesanya was left to slap his arms on the cage mat as an indication of frustration.
“One shot to kill a legend!”, exclaimed Laura Sanko throughout the telecast on Saturday. “That was unbelievable.” Sanko made historical past on the air this previous weekend when she turned the primary feminine to function an analyst on an MMA present in Saudi Arabia.
Nassourdine Imavov’s win resulted in a pay bump to the tune of $50,000 (USD), securing the Efficiency of the Evening Award within the course of.
With no Doubt! 💰@Imavov1 and @Bogdan_Grad each earned POTN!
[ #UFCSaudiArabia | @RiyadhSeason | #RiyadhSeason ] pic.twitter.com/xAlS6REuh8
— UFC (@ufc) February 1, 2025
Might a Title Struggle Loom Subsequent For Imavov?
After securing the victory, his fourth in succession, Nassourdine Imavov used his time on the platform to advocate for a shot on the UFC Middleweight Championship.
“I feel there’s little doubt I’m definitely worth the belt,” Imavov started, by his translator. “I imply, 4 victories in a single yr, two [in the] top-five, two [in the] top-10, two finishes, the file speaks for itself.”
When you think about that a kind of wins got here in opposition to the person who as soon as stood on the high of the mountain at 185, Nassourdine Imavov has confirmed himself most worthy to be within the dialog among the many upper-echelon within the weight class.
Closing Ideas
It’ll solely be a matter of time earlier than the UFC books a Nassourdine Imavov combat for the UFC Middleweight Championship. Realistically talking, this combat may occur as quickly as his subsequent contest ought to the promotion determine to order Imavov to scrap for the belt.
