Israel Adesanya Suffers Second-Round Knockout Loss to Nassourdine Imavov

3 Feb 2025

Israel Adesanya’s night ended abruptly on Saturday in Saudi Arabia as he suffered a second-round knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov, bringing his record to 24-5.

This defeat marks his third consecutive loss, sparking widespread speculation among fans about the 35-year-old’s future in mixed martial arts.

Adesanya, who once boasted a flawless 20-0 record, has struggled since his first career loss in 2021, going 4-5 and relinquishing the UFC Middleweight Championship. His bout against Imavov was his first non-title fight since 2019, and the swift defeat—his shortest loss to date—raises questions about his ability to reclaim his former dominance.

With no fight currently scheduled, Adesanya faces a critical juncture in his career as he seeks to rebound from this latest setback.