UFC Fight Night Adesanya vs. Imavov 2/1/25

On February 1, 2025, in Saudi Arabia, at the UFC Fight Night 250 event, a bout between two prominent middleweight fighters will take place. In the main event of the evening, former UFC champion Israel Adesanya will face rising star Nassourdine Imavov. For Adesanya, it's a chance to return to the winning path after a series of setbacks, while for Imavov, it's an opportunity to establish himself as a title contender.

Israel Adesanya, known as "The Last Stylebender," is a living legend in the UFC. After dominating the middleweight division with five successful title defenses, Adesanya encountered a string of defeats. Losing the belt to Alex Pereira, setbacks against Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis have led many to question his form. Despite this, Israel remains a dangerous opponent. After a six-month break, he promises to return in better shape, recharged both physically and mentally. However, in the context of the fight against Imavov, questions about his takedown defense remain relevant. Nassourdine Imavov is a young and ambitious fighter rapidly climbing the rankings. Originally from Dagestan but representing France, Imavov is a solid all-rounder. His recent victories over fighters like Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze have proven that he is ready to compete with the elite of the division. However, Imavov is not without weaknesses. His style sometimes appears predictable, and his stamina leaves much to be desired. In five-round fights, Nassourdine often loses pace by the third round, which could be a critical factor in the bout with Adesanya.

Imavov has some of the best boxing at 185-pounds. His jab is punishing, and he fires crisp combinations down the middle once he’s really found his range. Early in his UFC career, wrestling felt like a liability, but now Imavov has taken down and outworked some really solid competition at just 29 years of age. Skill-wise, I’m not sure Imavov has any major advantages here other than offensive wrestling, which outright doesn’t like enough to overcome Adesanya’s takedown defense. Really, his big advantage is being six years younger with less wear-and-tear on his mind and body. Last time out, Adesanya faded against Dricus Du Plessis’ mad barrage. He had big moments, but when he was fatigued and got clipped late, he shut down like older fighters are wont to do. Imavov’s best chance at victory is pushing the pace hard and aiming for a grueling fight. As the younger man, he’s going to recover more between rounds and wear the damage better, meaning any advantages and openings he find will grow over time.