Adesanya vs Imavov LIVE: UFC Saudi Arabia reaction and results as Adesanya gets knocked out
Relive the action as Israel Adesanya is knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov to deal the ex-champion a third straight defeat
Nassourdine Imavov stunningly knocked out Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia to extend the former two-time middleweight champion’s losing streak to three.
The in-form Frenchman slept the Nigerian-born New Zealander in two rounds to stamp his mark as the future of the division, condemning Adesanya to defeat in a fight that felt must win for the 35-year-old.
All eyes will now be on the main event of UFC 312 which sees Sean Strickland challenge Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight strap, with Imavov insistent that Saturday’s win should put him next in line.
Elsewhere, Michael “Venom” Page handed Shara Magomedov his first loss in an upset victory, which saw the London welterweight move up a weight class. ‘MVP’ put on an assured display to overcome the Dagestan fighter in a unanimous decision victory.
Relive the action from UFC Saudi Arabia, below.
Israel Adesanya vs Nassourdine Imavov
Round one
Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov, booked in five rounds. Let’s do this.
Heavy leg kick lands from Izzy to start things off, but Imavov isn’t backing away. He clips Adesanya with a left before going for the double leg - well-defended not once but twice by the former champ.
Adesanya throws the overhand, misses but clips Imavov with his elbow as he brings his arm back.
Imavov responds with a combination - that doesn’t land properly, but what does connect is a vicious upper cut that snaps Izzy’s head back! Imavov has him up against the fence but Izzy returns with a nice right hook and survives.
Israel Adesanya vs Nassourdine Imavov
Israel Adesanya is partial to an outlandish, anime-inspired walkout - but without the belt, there’s no glitz, glamour or special choreography in his entrance.
He’s all business.
Preview: Adesanya may never fight for UFC gold again if he can't pass Imavov test
Now fighting for contendership instead of gold, a win tonight is a must if Adesanya intends to become the UFC’s first three-time middleweight champion.
Anything else will cast him further away from the title picture and could even spell retirement. His route back to the throne is anything but easy, and his test against Imavov could prove telling.
Full preview of tonight’s main event:
Adesanya may never fight for a UFC title again if he can’t pass Imavov test
Israel Adesanya vs Nassourdine Imavov
It’s time for your main event! Israel Adesanya faces Nassourdine Imavov in a crucial middleweight clash.
Adesanya, a former two-time champion, will try to halt a two-fight losing streak as he takes on the in-form Frenchman. The Nigerian-born New Zealander is in a must-win situation, having surrendered the title to Sean Strickland in a major upset in 2023, before failing to reclaim the gold from current champ Dricus Du Plessis.
He’ll overcome Imavov, who is getting really getting the taste for the main event now. On a three-fight tear, the Frenchman soaked up home adulation last time out as he ground out a decision win over Brendan Allen in Paris, shooting him to fifth in the middleweight rankings.
Far more in-form than Adesanya, Imavov is vying for title contention for the first time, and the 28-year-old will be desperate to add a divisional great to his resume. For Adesanya, a loss here could cast him away from the title picture for good.
No change on which weight MVP is focussing on
Even after doing what no middleweight has done and beaten Shara Magomedov, MVP has confirmed in his post-fight interview that he intends to return to welterweight - for now.
“Look at me, look at me - I am the captain now,” he said.
“I need to practice a bit more at this weight, but I’ve got some work to do at 170lbs. Make sure you’re watching, because I’m coming.”
Shara Magomedov vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Round three
MVP eats an early leg kick but responds by snapping Shara’s head back with a jab. The Londoner has looked really sharp up a weight class.
Venom fires another right hand against the head of Shara, who dummied the flying knee. It’s then MVP who goes for the knee, he doesn’t get all of it but it has Shara covering up.
One minute to go and finally Magomedov begins to land some headshots. He needs a finish here. MVP wildly misses with an overhand before Shara charges in. He connects with an elbow but misses the following headkick.
Final ten seconds and MVP slips going for a spinning wheel kick - he’s on the deck but he’s joined by Shara, where he holds him for the remainder of the fight. We go to the judges...
Michael ‘Venom’ Page def. Shara Magomedov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Up a weight class? No problem for Venom! An assured display and just like that, he’s taken away Shara Magomedov’s zero.
Shara Magomedov vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Round two
Another overhand right lands from MVP to start the second - the pace he releases those shots seems almost undefendable.
Shara looks to respond with fierce leg kicks but Venom is doing really well at getting his legs out of the way. Magomedov is trying to enter that range where he can do proper damage.
However, just when Shara closes the distance enough, MVP grabs a hold of him and gets him against the cage, nullifying any immediate threat.
The second ends and it’s MVP on top. Shara ‘Bullet’ could be on the verge of losing his zero.
Shara Magomedov vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Round one
Here we go. This should be spectacular.
‘Shara’ chants ring around the arena as both fighters measure each other up. Shara chopping the wood early on but it’s MVP who flies in with first major strikes, sending Shara stumbling to the ground with an overhand right.
Another attempted overhand misses wildly from MVP and nearly allows Shara to take the neck. MVP escapes and evades, and is back with that bursting right later in the round. This one connects.
The pair end the round by trading spinning attacks - Shara misses with his back fist, before Venom connects with a back kick.
An enjoyable first five minutes, MVP’s corner will be encouraged.
Interview: ‘MVP’ sees Magomedov as ‘tailor made’ for KO
As the fighters make their way out, here’s what Michael ‘Venom’ Page had to tell us ahead of his exciting co-main event clash with Shara Magomedov.
We spoke to the London welterweight about why he’s moving up to 185lb for this fight, his feelings on his loss to Ian Machado Garry last year, and why he is confident of a KO over Magomedov.
‘MVP’ sees Shara Magomedov as ‘tailor-made’ opponent for UFC Saudi KO
Shara Magomedov vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Co-main event time. And what a co-main we’ve got in store.
Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov takes on Michael ‘Venom’ Page in a striking matchup to savour.
Both are capable of producing awe-inspiring knockouts – you only need to look at Magomedov’s last outing, where he finished Armen Petrosyan with a double spinning backfist.
MVP will meanwhile look to bounce back from defeat to Ian Machado Garry as he makes a reportedly brief move up to middleweight – hoping to hand Shara ‘Bullet’ his first professional loss.
Two human highlight reels are about to go at it. Get the popcorn, this is going to be something out of Street Fighter.
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