UFC: Adesanya confirmed for Saudi Arabia card

 Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will face Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC’s debut show in Saudi Arabia at the ANB Arena, Riyadh on February 1, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

UFC CEO Dana White announced the fight card via social media on Saturday, with Michael “Venom” Page moving up to middleweight to face undefeated striker Shara Magomedov in the co-main event.

The bout marks Adesanya’s first non-title fight since his victory over Anderson Silva in February 2019, with Brazilian middleweight contender Caio Barralho revealing that the Nigerian-New Zealander opted to face Imavov instead of him following discussions between both parties.

Adesanya, ranked No.4 in the middleweight division, looks to bounce back from consecutive losses to champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in August and Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023.

Despite these setbacks, ‘The Last Stylebender’ remains one of the UFC’s biggest draws, boasting an impressive 24-4 record with 16 knockout victories to his name.

His opponent Imavov, ranked seventh, enters the bout on a three-fight winning streak following victories over Brendan Allen at UFC Paris in September, along with wins against Jared Cannonier and Roman Dolidze.

The 35-year-old Adesanya, known for his striking finesse and unorthodox fighting style, has already begun preparations for what many consider a strategic matchup to help him regain momentum in the division.

A victory against the rising French star could propel Adesanya closer to a historic third reign as middleweight champion, with potential rematches against Strickland or du Plessis on the horizon.

In the co-main event, Page faces former Muay Thai and kickboxing champion Magomedov, who is coming off a spectacular double-spinning back fist knockout of Armen Petrosyan at UFC 308 in October, his 12th knockout in 15 professional wins.

The event will be part of Riyadh Season’s ambitious sports programme, as Saudi Arabia continues to cement its growing influence in global sports, presenting an opportunity for Adesanya to add another victory to his illustrious career and solidify his legacy as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of his generation.