Israel Adesanya’s recent defeat to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia marks a pivotal moment in the former two-time middleweight champion’s career. The Nigerian-born New Zealander suffered a second-round TKO, extending his losing streak to three consecutive fights and sparking questions about his future in the octagon.
Adesanya started the fight on a strong note, landing a series of hard low kicks and maintaining excellent takedown defense. He dominated the first round, earning praise from UFC President Dana White, who said, “He was picking him apart, busting him up on the outside. His takedown defense was incredible. He couldn’t have had a better first round.” However, everything changed in the second round when Imavov, riding a three-fight winning streak, landed a massive overhand right followed by a barrage of strikes that forced referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight.
This defeat is Adesanya’s first non-title fight in six years and has led many fans to urge him to retire. In response, the 35-year-old hinted at his determination to return, writing on Instagram, “Rolled the dice… snake eyes. I’ll be back, gone to get some milk.” Despite the loss, Adesanya maintained his characteristic composure, admitting to ESPN, “I don’t know what’s next for me. I have to chill and think about things… Help the teammates that have fights coming up and see what I wanna do.”
Reflecting on the disappointment, Adesanya said, “I hate disappointing my fans and my team. My team’s real proud of me because of the work I put into this. It’s just the thrill and agony of the fight game.” White echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that Adesanya’s performance up until the knockout was impressive.
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