Israel Adesanya is set to make his highly anticipated return at UFC Saudi Arabia, facing #5-ranked Nassourdine Imavov in a fight that could shape his future. Coming off back-to-back losses, Adesanya finds himself in a must-win situation. A victory puts him back in the title conversation, but a loss could push him further from contention. Imavov’s well-rounded skill set, especially his grappling, presents a tough challenge for ‘The Last Stylebender’.

Adesanya, once seen as the untouchable middleweight king, has faced a challenging stretch in his recent performances inside the Octagon. Despite the losses, Adesanya’s style remains as slick and technical as ever. His striking remains elite, with his movement and ability to control distance still formidable assets. However, in his recent bouts, he’s faced fighters who have successfully neutralized his game. Still, Adesanya’s resilience is undeniable. His ability to adapt, analyze, and bounce back from adversity has kept him in the conversation as a top-tier fighter.

With his next challenge on the horizon, many believe his best days aren’t behind him—the hunger for redemption is real, and fans know he’s always a threat. Although there are questions surrounding his age and decline, Adesanya must deliver a statement performance. However, before his fight, he met Cristiano Ronaldo and spoke at length. While speaking to the media before the fight he shared the details of what exactly the conversation was about. He said, “We just talked very very briefly casually and then we mentioned oh we just mentioned Volk he said he’s okay I was like yeah he’s good he’s in good spirits and yeah just boy chat but yeah shout out to Cristiano Ronaldo.”

The stakes couldn’t be higher for both fighters, but the pressure is particularly heavy on Israel Adesanya, the former middleweight champion. His recent performances inside the Octagon haven’t reflected the dominance he once displayed. Despite suffering two consecutive losses, ‘The Last Stylebender’ enters this fight with a renewed sense of confidence. While questions loom about his recent form, Adesanya’s belief in his abilities remains strong, and he’s determined to prove that his best days aren’t behind him.

Israel Adesanya reminds the world that he is still one of the best in the division

For the first time in his MMA career, Israel Adesanya finds himself fighting to prove that he’s far from done in the middleweight division. While the threat of another loss in Saudi Arabia looms large, the former two-time champion remains unshaken. Adesanya’s approach to every fight is consistent—he treats each one as just another chance to demonstrate his elite skills. Known for his unshakable self-confidence, ‘The Last Stylebender’ refuses to let recent setbacks define him. He firmly believes he can bounce back and return to his winning ways, with the determination to show the world that his journey is far from over.

Israel Adesanya recently gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at his grueling training routine through his YouTube channel. The former champion is leaving nothing to chance in his preparation, fully committed to the upcoming battle. Along with showcasing his intense training, Adesanya also shared his candid thoughts on the fight. He expressed that, after his recent setbacks, many may be underestimating him, but he’s confident in his ability to prove them wrong. He said, “Fighting him and beating him would be a way of just saying like, ‘Yeah, you can’t count me out. No matter what I can still take any of the top guys in this game at any time”. 

Despite his recent setbacks, Adesanya is confident that he can get back to winning ways in 2025. However, he has a tough challenge in front of him in Nassourdine Imavov. Will Israel Adesanya get back to winning ways next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.