Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has vowed to return to the octagon despite suffering a second-round TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia. The defeat marks his third consecutive loss and second career knockout.
The Nigerian-born New Zealander took to social media after the fight, showing resilience in the face of adversity.
“As real as it gets, @ufc. Rolled the dice…snake eyes. I’ll be back, gone to get some milk,” Adesanya wrote.
A Tough Night for ‘The Last Stylebender’
Adesanya entered the fight hoping to break his losing streak after setbacks against Sean Strickland at UFC 293 and Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305. However, his comeback attempt was cut short by the surging French contender.
Despite starting strong with low kicks that destabilized Imavov’s lead leg, Adesanya was rocked late in the first round by a stiff shovel hook and a powerful right hand. The end came early in the second round when Imavov dropped him with a massive right, followed by a left uppercut and a flurry of ground strikes, prompting referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight.
The loss is Adesanya’s first non-title fight in six years, leaving his professional record at 24 wins (16 knockouts) and four defeats.
Fans React to Adesanya’s Future
Following the defeat, fans offered mixed reactions, with some urging Adesanya to retire while others encouraged him to continue.
“Izzy, you got nothing left to prove brother! Leave the game. I know you still physically got it, but you don’t have the fire anymore,” wrote one fan, Primal Jay.
Another user, @contrarianturk, added, “You will always be a legend, time to hang it up.”
However, others remained supportive. Joe Sobran praised Adesanya’s resilience, stating, “Always a champion, already a legend, and probably the most well-liked UFC superstar of the people I know.”
Kevin Bones also applauded his sportsmanship, saying, “You got caught. That’s the game. It’s always a pleasure to watch you perform. Being humble in defeat is a big lesson to these younger guys.”
Imavov’s Biggest Win Yet
For Imavov (15-4), the victory was the biggest of his career, potentially positioning him for a title shot after previous wins over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen.
While speculation about Adesanya’s future continues—especially after he jokingly referred to himself as a “gatekeeper”—his post-fight message suggests he isn’t ready to walk away just yet.
“Keep your head up, champ. We true fans know you’re a legend,” wrote supporter Angelo Wong, echoing the sentiments of those who believe Adesanya still has more to give in the octagon.
