Israel Adesanya, a former two-time UFC middleweight champion, has vowed to make a comeback following his third consecutive defeat, which came at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia. Despite a devastating second-round TKO loss, Adesanya showed his signature resilience, sharing his resolve on social media after the fight.
“Rolled the dice…snake eyes. I’ll be back, gone to get some milk,” the Nigerian-born New Zealander wrote, reflecting his determination to continue competing.
Adesanya, 35, entered the fight hoping to end his first-ever consecutive losing streak, following setbacks against Sean Strickland at UFC 293 and Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 last August. However, his hopes were dashed by the surging French contender, Imavov, who capitalized on the opportunity.
The former champion began the bout with a strong performance, landing a series of powerful low kicks that appeared to affect Imavov’s lead leg. However, the momentum shifted in the closing moments of the first round when Imavov landed a stiff shovel hook, followed by a powerful right hand that Adesanya weathered, though visibly shaken.
The turning point came swiftly in the second round when Imavov delivered a massive right hand that dropped Adesanya. He followed up with a left uppercut and a series of ground strikes, prompting referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight.
This defeat marks the first time in six years and 12 fights that Adesanya has competed without a UFC title on the line. With a professional record of 24 wins, 16 knockouts, and 4 losses, Adesanya has now suffered three defeats in the past 12 months.
Before the fight, Adesanya dismissed concerns about his future, stating, “I’m always in the title picture. That’s because I’m Israel Adesanya, and I’ve done so much in this game.”
The loss has sparked mixed reactions from fans. While some have called for his retirement, others remain supportive of the former champion’s resilience.
“Izzy, you’ve got nothing left to prove. Leave the game. Your mind isn’t in it anymore,” wrote fan Primal Jay on social media. However, other fans praised his performance, with Ciana Flow noting, “You looked sharp tonight. It’s part of the game. Rest up and get straight back to it. You’ve gone nowhere, champ!”
Adesanya’s sportsmanship was also praised by Kevin Bones, who wrote, “Being humble in defeat is a big lesson to these younger guys.”
For Imavov, the victory marked the biggest of his career and could put him in line for a title shot following previous wins over notable fighters such as Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen.
While Adesanya’s future remains uncertain, his resilient response to the loss suggests that the former champion is not ready to retire from the sport just yet. “Keep your head up, champ. We true fans know you’re a legend,” wrote fan Angelo Wong, echoing the sentiments of many who believe Adesanya still has more to offer in the octagon.
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