Nassourdine Imavov is preparing for what could be the defining moment of his career as he takes on Israel Adesanya at UFC Saudi Arabia. For Adesanya, this fight marks a significant shift—it will be his first non-title bout in nearly six years and his first appearance on a non-numbered UFC card since headlining the TUF 27 finale in 2018.
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The stakes are high for both fighters, but there is a lot of pressure on the former middleweight champion. Adesanya’s recent run of form inside the Octagon has been nowhere close to his best. Despite his last two losses ‘The Last Stylebender’ is walking into the fight high on confidence.
Israel Adesanya still believes he can beat anyone in the division on his day
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Robert Whittaker picks his favorite between Adesanya and Imavov’s fight
Robert Whittaker recently weighed in on the much-anticipated showdown between Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov, offering a balanced analysis that favored Adesanya while also recognizing the threat Imavov poses. On the MMArcade podcast, Whittaker explained why he believes Adesanya holds the advantage, but also pointed out the key areas where the Dagestani-Frenchman could cause an upset and challenge the former champion’s dominance. Whittaker, who has faced Adesanya twice feels the former champion can come out on top.
He said, “I’d have to lean into Izzy being the favorite. He’s so good at what he does. But Imavov’s a bit of a dog—he can go the distance. His striking is good, and I can see him pushing the pace, pushing the pressure to try to make Adesanya make errors, much like how Dricus [Du Plessis] fought him.” Whittaker recognized that Imavov has the tools to throw off Adesanya’s rhythm, but emphasized that Adesanya’s sharp precision and counter-striking skills make him a tough opponent to figure out.
While Nassourdine Imavov may present some challenges, ‘Izzy’ remains unfazed. The former champion isn’t just focused on this fight—he’s already looking ahead, planning his next big move in the Octagon.
Who do you think will win the fight between the two? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
