Imavov Knocks Out Adesanya, Eyes UFC Title Shot

Imavov Knocks Out Adesanya, Eyes UFC Title Shot

Nassourdine Imavov made a statement with a stunning second-round knockout of former UFC champion Israel Adesanya in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, securing his place in the title fight picture. The 30-year-old French fighter, known as "The Sniper," delivered a precision right-hand punch early in the second round, followed by a devastating left uppercut that sent Adesanya to the canvas.

Adesanya, fighting in a non-title bout for the first time since 2019, had hoped to revive his title aspirations after losing three of his last four attempts at reclaiming the championship. After being dethroned by Alex Pereira in November 2022, Adesanya regained the title in a rematch before losing it to Sean Strickland and suffering a submission defeat by Dricus Du Plessis in August 2024.

The fight began with Adesanya landing heavy kicks and using feints to control the tempo. However, Imavov's swift and accurate strikes turned the fight in his favor. Referee Marc Goddard gave Adesanya a chance to recover, but with Imavov landing multiple blows, the fight was stopped, securing a knockout victory for the Frenchman.

Imavov, confident in his performance, expressed his desire for a title shot: "I proved it tonight that I was the better striker. Now the real bonus for me is going to be to fight for the belt."

In the co-main event, Michael "Venom" Page defeated Shara Magomedov by unanimous decision, handing the Russian his first professional MMA loss in a closely contested fight.