French fighter Nassourdine Imavov delivered a stunning second-round knockout victory over former UFC champion Israel Adesanya in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, shaking up the middleweight division and putting himself firmly in title contention ahead of next week’s championship fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland.
For Adesanya, it was a crucial non-title bout—his first since February 2019—as he sought to regain momentum after losing three of his last four championship fights. The Nigerian-born New Zealander had previously been dethroned by Alex Pereira in November 2022, briefly reclaiming the title in a rematch before losing again to Strickland. His most recent fight ended in a submission defeat to Du Plessis in August 2024.
Adesanya, known as Stylebender, started the fight strong, utilizing his trademark feints and heavy kicks to the body to keep his French opponent at bay. However, Imavov, who had won all three of his fights in 2024, weathered the early storm and turned the tide in dramatic fashion.
Midway through the second round, Imavov landed a thunderous overhand right to Adesanya’s jaw, immediately following up with a brutal left uppercut as the former champion staggered to the canvas. Referee Marc Goddard allowed Adesanya a brief moment to recover, but as Imavov continued his relentless assault, the fight was waved off, securing a decisive knockout win for the 30-year-old Frenchman.
“I said all week that I was in perfect shape,” Imavov said through an interpreter after the fight. “I proved tonight that I was the better striker. Now, the real bonus for me is to fight for the belt.”
Nicknamed The Sniper, Imavov showcased his precision and speed, landing a devastating right-hand shot that marked the beginning of the end for Adesanya.
A visibly disappointed Adesanya reflected on the loss in a post-fight interview. “I hate disappointing my fans and my team,” he said. “My team’s real proud of me because of the work I put in, but it’s just the thrill and agony of the fight game.”
With this victory, Imavov catapults himself into the title conversation, setting the stage for a potential showdown with the winner of next week’s middleweight championship clash between Du Plessis and Strickland.