UFC CEO Dana White has announced the UFC Saudi Arabia fight card featuring a mix of veteran fighters and rising stars in the promotion. The event will be headlined by former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Additionally, some emerging superstars, including Sharaputdin Magomedov, are also set to make their return.
The fight card is set for February 1 and will take place at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the main event, Israel Adesanya will face rising UFC middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov. Additionally, Dana White has announced that Sharaputdin Magomedov and Michael ‘Venom’ Page will compete in the co-main event.
Adesanya vs Imavov and Magomedov vs Page is LIVE February 1st from Riyadh! #UFCRiyadh #RiyadhSeason @RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/1NHjEbtax1
— danawhite (@danawhite) December 14, 2024
Since the UFC CEO has developed a strong partnership with Saudi GEA chairman Turki Alalshikh, the UFC community has experienced some of the most highly anticipated fight events. Most recently, the Noche UFC, which received significant funding from Alalshikh, set several records within the community. Additionally, the upcoming UFC Saudi Arabia card marks the second time the promotion will visit the Gulf country.
استعدوا لمواجهات أسطورية من فئة الوزن المتوسط تجمع المقاتل أديسانيا وناصر الدين إماموف والمقاتل شارة ماجوميدوف ومايكل بيج ضمن مواجهات ليلة القتال UFC في 1 فبراير 😍🔥
تطرح التذاكر بتاريخ 3 يناير 🎟️
Mark your calendars for an epic clash between Israel Adesanya vs Nassourdine… pic.twitter.com/uzI2gCmHjb
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) December 14, 2024
Interestingly, alongside Adesanya and ‘Shara Bullet’, the UFC fight card in Saudi Arabia will feature top heavyweight fighters Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. This upcoming event is significant for many fighters. However, for Adesanya, his match against Imamov highlights something he hasn’t experienced in the last five years of his UFC career.
Israel Adesanya’s upcoming fight against Nassourdine Imamov marks his first non-title bout in five years
The ‘Last Stylebender’ Israel Adesanya has been one of the most exciting fighters in UFC. Over the years, Adesanya has carried a great persona and has defeated several top formidable fighters in the promotion. Because of his back-to-back exquisite performances, ‘Izzy’ crowned himself as the middleweight champion back in 2019.
Israel Adesanya is set to face Nassourdine Imavov in UFC Saudi Arabia (Image via Imago)Interestingly, since winning the UFC middleweight crown from Robert Whittaker, Adesanya has continuously fought in championship fights. However, his upcoming fight at UFC Saudi Arabia against Nassourdine Imamov would be first non title fight since 2019. Interestingly, Adesanya’s current trajectory in promotion is one of the prominent reasons for that.
In his last four UFC bouts, Adesanya has won only one. Currently, the former UFC middleweight champion is on a two-fight losing streak. Most recently, the reigning UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis decisively defeated Adesanya in their fight at UFC 305. It will be interesting to see if Izzy can return to his impressive win streak form in non-title fights.
