Former UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, will face rising star Nassourdine Imavov in a highly anticipated non-title middleweight showdown on Saturday in Riyadh.
This event marks the first UFC fight in the region this year.
Adesanya, ranked No. 2 in the UFC middleweight division, enters the fight after suffering back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland.
Imavov, ranked No. 5, comes into the bout on a three-fight unbeaten streak, with victories over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen.
The fight is scheduled for five rounds of five minutes each.
Speaking ahead of the bout, Adesanya, 35, expressed his confidence in his ability to rebound.
“This fight is for me,” said the Nigerian-born, New Zealand-raised fighter.
“I’m doing this to prove to myself that I’m still in the game and dangerous.”
He added, “The pressure’s on him (Imavov), but I always put pressure on myself when I get there. He’s going to have to rise to the occasion. I have it in me to stop him.”
Imavov, excited about the challenge, shared his thoughts on the fight.
“It’s a huge fight for me. I’ve been looking for this opportunity since I joined the UFC,” he said.
“Adesanya is a legend, and I’m thrilled to fight him. “I’m fast, accurate, and I’m preparing a surprise for Saturday night.”
Should Imavov win, he could secure a title shot against the middleweight champion. The title will be decided on February 8 at UFC 312 in Sydney, where Du Plessis faces Strickland.
