Israel Adesanya’s losing streak continued on Saturday, raising further questions about his once-elite abilities.

The two-time UFC champion encountered his third consecutive defeat, this time losing by technical knockout to Nassourdine Imavov in a middleweight clash.

Imavov knocked him down with a powerful overhand right and went on to deliver a flurry of blows on the ground, prompting the referee to call off the match just 30 seconds into the second round.

This fight was Adesanya’s first that did not involve a title since 2019, and it remains uncertain when—or if—the 35-year-old will have another chance at a championship. His record now stands at 24 wins and 5 losses after experiencing four defeats in his last five fights.

Imavov, a 28-year-old from France, celebrated his fourth consecutive win, elevating his record to 16-4.

Here’s a summary of the other key fights on the card:

Michael Page def. Shara Magomedov by unanimous decision

Page showcased his speed and agility, earning a decisive victory in the middleweight battle, handing Magomedov the first loss of his career.

With continuous movement on the balls of his feet, Page was adept at avoiding powerful strikes while delivering his own effectively. Late in the third round, under pressure, Page successfully countered Magomedov with a solid left jab.

The judges scored the bout 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 in favor of Page.

The 37-year-old British fighter improved his record to 23-3, while the 30-year-old Russian, Magomedov, fell to 15-1.

Sergei Pavlovich def. Jairzinho Rozenstruik by unanimous decision

The heavyweight bout wasn’t particularly thrilling, with the action slowing down enough for the referee to urge the fighters to pick it up on two occasions.

When the fight did heat up, Pavlovich’s superior striking allowed him to take control of the fight.

The crowd expressed their discontent during the quieter moments, but there was no doubt about the verdict, as all three judges scored it 30-27 for Pavlovich, the 32-year-old Russian who improved to 19-3.

Rozenstruik, a 36-year-old from Suriname, saw his record drop to 15-6.

Vinicius Oliveira def. Said Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision

Oliveira, visibly wincing from an injury, revealed he had fought through pain during an exciting bantamweight contest.

Nurmagomedov, appearing explosive early on, controlled the first round with a series of kicks. However, by the second round, he seemed fatigued, allowing Oliveira to shift gears and increase his offensive output.

All judges scored the fight 29-28 in favor of Oliveira, a 29-year-old Brazilian who enhanced his record to 22-3, while Nurmagomedov, 32, dropped to 18-4.

Fares Ziam def. Mike Davis by unanimous decision

Ziam claimed a commanding victory in their lightweight bout, finishing the match covered in blood, most of which belonged to Davis.

Ziam opened a deep cut on Davis early in the second round that led to a lot of bloodshed, while also controlling the fight. Though Davis managed to land powerful strikes late in the third round, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome.

All judges scored the fight 30-27 for Ziam, a 27-year-old Frenchman whose record improved to 17-4, while Davis, a 32-year-old American, dropped to 11-3.

Muhammad Naimov def. Kaan Ofli by unanimous decision

Naimov took a kick to the groin early in the first round and required a short break to recover. This was the only moment he appeared in trouble during the featherweight fight.

Both fighters landed numerous strikes while standing, but Naimov won decisively on the ground, where he dominated Ofli during significant portions of the fight.

The judges scored the match 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 in favor of Naimov, a 30-year-old from Tajikistan who improved to 12-3. Ofli, a 31-year-old Australian, fell to 11-4-1.

Shamil Gaziev def. Thomas Petersen by TKO

Gaziev displayed impressive finishing power, achieving a TKO victory in the first round with a devastating right cross.

Earlier in the round, Petersen landed a takedown but failed to maintain control, allowing Gaziev to rally with an aggressive counterattack.

The referee stepped in to stop the action at 3:12 of the first round.

Gaziev, a 34-year-old Russian, improved to 13-1, while Petersen, a 29-year-old American, fell to 9-3.

Terrance McKinney def. Damir Hadzovic by TKO

Using his trademark aggression, McKinney finished off Hadzovic in just two minutes in their lightweight clash.

McKinney opened with head kicks, followed by a takedown that led to a flurry of elbows and punches that forced the referee to halt the match.

Of his 16 wins, 15 have come in the first round. McKinney, a 30-year-old from Chicago, brought his record to 16-7, while Hadzovic, a 38-year-old from Bosnia, dropped to 14-8.

Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Mayra Bueno Silva by unanimous decision

Jasudavicius executed takedowns in every round, dominating Silva on the canvas on her way to a unanimous decision win in their flyweight fight.

Though the rounds were competitive, Jasudavicius took control whenever she secured a takedown, landing significant strikes on Silva.

All judges scored the match 30-27 in favor of Jasudavicius, a 35-year-old Canadian whose record now stands at 13-3, while Silva, a 33-year-old Brazilian, fell to 10-5-1.

Bogdan Grad def. Lucas Alexander by TKO

Grad knocked down Alexander with a powerful right hand in the second round, following up with a series of punches and elbows to secure a TKO victory.

Although Alexander began the fight strong and knocked Grad down early in the second round, Grad quickly bounced back, landing a decisive right and dominating the remainder of the round. The referee called a stop to the fight with 27 seconds left in the second round.

Grad, a Romanian-born fighter, improved to 15-2. Alexander, a 29-year-old Brazilian, fell to 8-5.

Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Jamal Pogues by split decision

Pogues displayed a mix of emotions while entering the Octagon and during the bout, but he felt downcast after this heavyweight fight against Abdelwahab ended in a split decision.

In his return to the UFC after over two years, Abdelwahab remarked that he believed he hadn’t done enough to win, but the judges saw it differently.

They scored the fight 27-30, 29-28, 29-28 in favor of Abdelwahab, even though Pogues landed numerous strikes throughout the match.

Abdelwahab, a 32-year-old Egyptian and former Olympic wrestler, improved to 6-0, while Pogues, a 29-year-old American, fell to 11-5.

UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia fight card

Main Card

• Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Middleweight Bout
• Shara Magomedov faces Michael Page, in the Middleweight category
• Sergei Pavlovich takes on Jairzinho Rozenstruik, in the Heavyweight division
• Said Nurmagomedov competes against Vinicius Oliveira, in Bantamweight
• Mike Davis goes up against Fares Ziam, in Lightweight

Preliminary Fights

• Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli, Featherweight
• Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen, Heavyweight
• Damir Hadzovic vs. Terrance McKinney, Lightweight
• Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Women’s Flyweight
• Lucas Alexander vs. Bogdan Grad, Featherweight
• Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues, Heavyweight

UFC Saudi Arabia: Schedule, Broadcast, Streaming for Adesanya vs. Imavov

• Date: Saturday, February 1
• Time: Preliminary bouts start at 9 a.m. ET; Main event begins at noon ET
• Venue: ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Television: Not available
• Streaming: ESPN+ Pay-Per-View

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UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia Betting Odds

All betting odds reflect moneyline bets (as of Saturday), provided by BetMGM.

Main Card

• Israel Adesanya (-170) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (+140)
• Shara Magomedov (-185) vs. Michael Page (-185)
• Sergei Pavlovich (-325) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (+260)
• Said Nurmagomedov (-160) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (+135)
• Mike Davis (-140) vs. Fares Ziam (+115)

Preliminary Matches

• Muhammad Naimov (-325) vs. Kaan Ofli (+260)
• Shamil Gaziev (-350) vs. Thomas Petersen (+280)
• Damir Hadzovic (+360) vs. Terrance McKinney (-500)
• Jasmine Jasudavicius (-250) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (+200)
• Lucas Alexander (-125) vs. Bogdan Grad (+105)
• Hamdy Abdelwahab (-115) vs. Jamal Pogues (-105)

Predictions for UFC Saudi Arabia

MMA Junkie: Most predict Adesanya to win

• Nolan King: Adesanya, 8-3
• Matt Erickson: Adesanya, 8-3
• Simon Samano: Imavov, 7-4
• Brian Garcia: Imavov, 7-4
• George Garcia: Adesanya, 7-4
• Matthew Wells: Adesanya, 6-5
• Danny Segura: Imavov, 6-5
• Ken Hathaway: Imavov, 5-6
• Farah Hannoun: Adesanya, 5-6
• Abbey Subhan: Adesanya, 5-6
• Mike Bohn: Adesanya, 3-8
• MMA Junkie readers’ consensus: 79% favor Adesanya

Forbes: Adesanya anticipated to achieve victory by decision

Trent Reinsmith states, “With two consecutive defeats, it’s reasonable to wonder if 35-year-old Adesanya is experiencing a decline. However, I don’t think that’s the case, especially regarding his striking capabilities. If he can maintain the fight on his feet, it’s likely that he will prevail. Nevertheless, if Imavov resorts to wrestling, the match could take a compelling turn. My prediction is Adesanya via decision.”

ClutchPoints: Adesanya the expected victor

Dominik Zawartko comments, “This encounter promises to be entertaining for fans as we will likely witness superb striking from both competitors. However, Israel Adesanya excels at controlling distance, and I doubt Imavov will successfully close the gap. Moreover, Adesanya is known for absorbing significant hits, and I don’t foresee Imavov posing much of a knockout threat.

Expect the fight to extend into the later rounds, but I believe Israel Adesanya will emerge victorious, showcasing elements of his former unmatched prowess.”

VSiN: Adesanya has the upper hand

Lou Finocchiaro expresses, “Adesanya’s superior athleticism, reach, and length will allow him to potentially dominate Imavov, provided he keeps the fight standing and remains focused.

“At the outset, this bout appears to be closely contested. However, entering the third round and onwards, if Adesanya stays determined and motivated, his experience and past competition level will give him the advantage. The only uncertainty is: which version of Adesanya will we witness?”

Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov: Fight Statistics

Pricing for UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia

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