Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will fight Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Fight Night 250 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on February 1st.
This will mark the 35-year-old Adesanya’s first non-title bout in six years as he looks to regroup and get back on track after suffering defeat in his last two fights.
Adesanya had suffered a shock title loss on the scorecards to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in 2023, and then came up empty-handed in his attempt win it back against current champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in August of this year, losing by a face crank submission in the fourth round.
That means Adesanya’s overall UFC record now stands at 13-4, with his other two losses coming against his long-time rival Alex Pereira, and a decision loss to Jan Blachowicz in an unsuccessful attempt to win the 205lb title in 2021.
Still ranked the No.2 contender at middleweight, Adesanya now takes on the 29-year-old Imavov, who is currently unbeaten in his last four fights and holds a 7-2 (+1nc) record overall in the Octagon.
Imavov’s current unbeaten stretch actually started with a no-contest when an accidental headbutt left his opponent Chris Curtis unable to continue back in June of last year.
Imavov has since gone to put together three wins in a row this year, beating Roman Dolidze by majority decision, followed by a TKO finish of Jared Cannonier and a unanimous decision win against Brendan Allen, taking him to No.5 in the rankings.
Adesanya vs. Imavov headlines a UFC Fight Night 250 card that will also feature Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Shara Magomedov vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page and Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael Fiziev.
