French fighter Nassourdine Imavov delivered a stunning upset against Israel Adesanya, securing a technical knockout (TKO) in the second round of their UFC middleweight bout at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Frenchman shocked Adesanya, a Nigerian-New Zealander and former UFC champion, in their highly anticipated non-title fight.
Adesanya’s Losing Streak Continues
The loss marks Adesanya’s third consecutive defeat in the UFC, following his losses to Sean Strickland in 2023 and South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis in August 2024. It is also his fifth career defeat in the UFC.
Despite this, Adesanya’s camp asserted that the former champion had been better prepared for Imavov than in his previous two losses.
How the Fight Unfolded
Adesanya entered the octagon looking sharper and more focused, displaying less of his usual showmanship. He effectively countered Imavov’s takedown attempts and handled the first round well.
However, a moment of panic came towards the end of the round when Imavov landed a powerful uppercut, momentarily staggering Adesanya. The former champion quickly responded with a sharp right hook just before the buzzer sounded.
The Turning Point: Imavov’s Decisive Blow
As the second round began, Adesanya seemed to have control, managing the pace of the fight and keeping Imavov’s pressure at bay.
But then, the fight took a dramatic turn. Imavov feinted with a jab, baiting Adesanya into reacting. The Frenchman capitalized on the opening, unleashing a devastating overhand right that connected flush on Adesanya’s jaw, sending him crashing to the canvas.
With this victory, Nassourdine Imavov solidifies his status as a rising contender in the UFC middleweight division, while Adesanya faces questions about his future after another crushing defeat.