Israel Adesanya suffered a knockout loss to Frenchman Nassourdine Imavov on Saturday in Riyadh. The former champion reacts to his defeat.
At the UFC Saudi Stars event held at Anb Arena in Riyadh, Israel Adesanya faced Nassourdine Imavov in the under-84 kg category. After dominating the first round, the Nigerian was later caught off guard by “The Sniper.” In the second round, Nassourdine Imavov knocked out the former champion with a powerful rear hand strike. A remarkable performance for the French fighter and another setback for Izzy.
نصر الدين إيمافوف يحقق فوزًا تاريخيًا على إسرائيل أديسانيا بالضربة القاضية ويقترب من لقب UFC
Following his loss, “The Last Stylebender” spoke to ESPN and shared his disappointment. “I’m disappointed. I hate letting my fans and my team down. My team is always proud of the work I’ve put in.
It’s just a rollercoaster of emotions—thrill and agony. He must be excited to beat a guy like me,” said Adesanya.
“In the first round, I was in control. Looking back, maybe I should have taken some time off before this fight. I didn’t want to let him rest because I knew he was tired,” added the Lagos-born fighter.
“I’ll See What I Want to Do”
As for his future in the sport, the question remains. “I don’t know what’s next. I’ll take some time off, help my teammates who have upcoming fights, and see what I want to do,” the Nigerian explained.
Ranked No. 2 in the division before the fight, Adesanya is set to drop further in the global rankings. At 35 years old and after three consecutive losses, his career trajectory is concerning. Is he heading toward retirement? “I was going to think about it anyway, but now I have to. Congrats to Nassourdine for the win.”
Regardless, the City Kickboxing fighter has nothing left to prove. A former UFC middleweight champion, he competed at the highest level for years and defended his belt five times. As a true sports legend, he now faces the crucial decision of whether to step away gracefully or risk tarnishing his legacy as a champion.
