Adesanya Speaks on UFC Saudi Arabia Event: "I Continue to Receive Compensation"
The upcoming battle for Israel Adesanya inside the UFC Octagon will mark his first appearance on a non-pay-per-view event since he defeated Brad Tavares in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale in 2018, broadcast on FOX Sports 1. This was quite some time ago.
Since that victory, Adesanya has participated in 14 consecutive UFC pay-per-view events, accumulating a record of 10-4. Of these, 12 were title fights. In this period, Adesanya held the UFC middleweight title twice. His most recent pay-per-view bout was in August 2023, where he suffered a submission loss to current UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305.
Those expecting adverse reactions from Adesanya regarding his non-numbered UFC event appearance as the main event for UFC Saudi Arabia Fight Night will be disappointed. In his YouTube post, Adesanya expressed:
"I still get paid. There's still a referee, it's two of us in there, there's a crowd. It's not like the (expletive) Apex or something, so it doesn't feel any different. I think people are making it out to be something they would react to, but they're not in my shoes. They're not in my shorts."
"..... It's a Saudi Arabia Fight Night, first of all. I still get paid. It still feels like you're fighting Israel Adesanya. This is the biggest fight of his life. I have to be the one to halt that. It still feels the same. It doesn't feel any different."
UFC Saudi Arabia Fight Night Main Event
Adesanya prepares to clash with Nassourdine Imavov in the first event outside the United States on the 2025 UFC schedule.
Adesanya, ranked second in the UFC's 185-pound division, is currently on a two-fight losing skid, marking his first such skid in his MMA career. At 35, Adesanya saw the end of his second run as UFC middleweight champion in September 2023 with a one-sided defeat at the hands of Sean Strickland.
Adesanya had the opportunity to claim a third UFC title in August 2024 but fell short, succumbing to du Plessis by rear-naked choke in the fourth round of their UFC 305 encounter. The loss marked Adesanya's first submission defeat.
In Adesanya's view, the loss to du Plessis was no more painful than his other setbacks. "No, not at all," said Adesanya. "I did my best, and I was in pretty good shape. .... The Dricus fight, I was in great shape. I felt strong, but yeah, definitely room for improvement, and we've made those improvements."
Imavov, ranked fifth in the UFC middleweight division, prepares to challenge Adesanya in the UFC Saudi Arabia main event. Imavov has an undefeated streak of four fights, including a unanimous decision victory over Brendan Allen in September.
Imavov's last defeat came in a unanimous decision loss to Strickland in January 2023. The UFC Saudi Arabia fight card takes place on February 1 from ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, streaming on ESPN+ with prelims starting at 9 a.m. ET and the main card at 12 noon ET.
- In the UFC Saudi Arabia Fight Night Main Event, fans will witness Israel Adesanya facing off against Nassourdine Imavov, marking Adesanya's first appearance in a non-pay-per-view event since defeating Brad Tavares in 2018.
- Despite the change in venue and event type, Adesanya remained unfazed, stating in a YouTube post that his upcoming fight against Imavov will feel no different than any other UFC bout, as it still involves getting paid, a referee, and a crowd.
- With both Adesanya and Imavov preparing for their UFC Saudi Arabia fight, the Octagon will witness a clash between the second-ranked Adesanya and the fifth-ranked Imavov, as the former looks to bounce back from a two-fight losing streak and regain his UFC middleweight title contention.
