Israel Adesanya suffered a second-round TKO defeat to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia, marking his third consecutive loss. The former champion struggled to counter Imavov’s striking, ultimately falling to a decisive knockout. With his future uncertain, Adesanya faces a critical career crossroads.
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya endured another setback in his career, suffering a second-round TKO defeat to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia. This marks Adesanya’s second career knockout loss and extends his losing streak to three consecutive fights.
Adesanya began the fight aggressively, utilizing low kicks to control the distance. However, Imavov remained composed and landed a sharp shovel hook in the opening round, briefly staggering the Nigerian-born fighter. Despite Adesanya’s attempts to regain momentum, Imavov continued to pressure him.
Early in the second round, Imavov delivered a powerful right hand that sent Adesanya to the canvas. Sensing the opportunity to finish, the French fighter followed up with a precise uppercut and relentless ground strikes. The referee swiftly intervened, stopping the contest and declaring Imavov the winner by TKO.
With this loss, Adesanya’s future in the division remains uncertain, as he now faces questions about his ability to reclaim his dominance. Meanwhile, Imavov’s victory cements his status as a rising contender in the middleweight division.
As fans and analysts react to Adesanya’s latest defeat, discussions have begun regarding his potential comeback or a possible career direction. The UFC star will need to reassess his strategy as he looks for a way to bounce back from this challenging phase in his career.
