Israel Adesanya has dazzled fans with his striking brilliance, but even the greatest fighters face struggles inside the Octagon. Once an untouchable force in the middleweight division, Adesanya has encountered setbacks, including tough losses in his last two fights. His recent title loss to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis exposed vulnerabilities in his game. Despite these challenges, Adesanya remains a warrior, constantly evolving and refusing to back down. ‘The Last Style Bender’ is all geared up for his upcoming fight against Nassourdine Imavov and is leaving no stone unturned in his preparation.

His willingness to push his limits is what made him a dominant champion and keeps him in the conversation as one of the best. Beyond the physical grind, Israel Adesanya’s mental strength plays a huge role in his success. He visualizes his victories, speaks his goals into existence, and embraces the pressure that comes with being at the top. His mindset is built on self-belief, refusing to let setbacks define him. Even after tough losses, he returns to the gym, hungry to correct mistakes and evolve as a fighter. This was also the case during his current training camp and, while speaking to Ariel Helwani, shared the details of it.

Uncrowned shared the video with the fans where Helwani and Adesanya apparently spoke about the sacrifices he made. Helwani asked ‘Izzy’, “Can I ask you – was that a conscious decision on your part, the abstaining?” The former champion was quick to respond, “Yeah it was.. it’s.. look it’s always there. I am always horny but it’s like you just, you know – let’s put it this way – I like the freedom of thought. I like the freedom of choice so I like to know I can do something but I choose not to. And yeah it’s a readily available option but I just chose not to as much this camp.”

Israel Adesanya’s upcoming showdown against #5-ranked Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia could be his final, crucial step toward another title shot. With back-to-back losses weighing on his record, Adesanya finds himself in unfamiliar territory—his dominance no longer guaranteed. A win could put him right back in the title conversation, but a loss to the relatively unheralded Imavov would be a devastating setback. While many have ruled him out of the fight he has found himself a supporter in a former rival.

Robert Whittaker picks Israel Adesanya as the favorite for his upcoming fight

As he approaches his 36th birthday, the former middleweight champion faces the reality that time isn’t on his side. His signature kickboxing style—built on razor-sharp reflexes, explosive speed, and elite athleticism—relies on attributes that naturally decline with age. Fighters who depend on precision and quick reactions often struggle to maintain their edge as the years pass.

For Adesanya, this bout isn’t just about staying in the title picture—it’s about proving that he still has the physical tools to compete at the highest level. More importantly, a loss would likely fuel conversations that Adesanya is past his prime—an inevitable fate even for the greatest fighters.

To make matters tougher, Imavov’s grappling-heavy approach poses a serious challenge for ‘The Last Stylebender’, who has historically struggled against strong wrestlers. However, there’s a silver lining for Adesanya’s fans—his former rival, Robert Whittaker, has offered some encouraging insight that could give hope to the Yoruba star’s supporters.

While speaking on the MMA Arcade YouTube channel he said, “It is so hard for me to bet against Adesanya in about any matchup. The way he [Adesanya] utilizes his counters, his aggressive fighting, his pressure with his length, and his faints make it very make him very hard to take down. And if you’re not taking him down, you’re having like a long night in the office, okay,”. 

Who do you think will win the fight between Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov? Will Imavov forge his legacy at the expense of Adesanya, or will the former middleweight champion remind us that he can still beat anyone on a good day? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.