Former two-time UFC champion Israel Adesanya says he hopes to show how great a fighter he is when he gets into the octagon against fast-rising French star Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night in Saudi Arabia on February 1.
Adesanya is going into the fight off back-to-back title fight losses against Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis while Imavov is brimming with confidence off the back of three straight wins against three fighters in the top 3 of the middleweight division.
It is the first time Adesanya will be contending in a non-title bout since February 10, 201,9 when he defeated UFC legend and idol, Anderson Silva to secure a title shot.
Between April 2019 and April 2023, the Nigerian-born New Zealander won eight title fights, capped off with a career-defining moment when he stopped arch-rival Alex Pereira to capture the 185-pound title for the second time.
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There is none of the brash and smart-talking from Adesanya ahead of this fight as many are used to. The 35-year-old said the fight is different from the rest as his main goal in this one is to show fight lovers how great he is.
“Each fight is different; each fight is a blank canvas,” Adesanya told UFC.com. “A new opportunity to show how great I am, to create highlights, to create memories. And this fight, I’m just looking at it as a chance to show off.”
Despite being the favorite going into the fight as the more experienced, more accomplished and better-ranked fighter, Adesanya revealed that Imavov is dangerous but he would love to see what he brings into the octagon aside from speed.
“He’s a dangerous guy; he’s a Top 5 middleweight. There’s no belt on the line, but I want to prove to myself that I’m better than I was.
“From what I see so far, there’s nothing that he brings that I haven’t seen before,” Adesanya said. “I think his best attribute is his speed—his speed, his counters. But I’ve seen that before, and it’s up to him to show me something I haven’t seen before.”
“I like his style; his standup looks cool, it’s very efficient. He mixes it up well with the grappling, as well. He’s fast, he’s young, he’s slick. I’m excited to best a guy like that. He’s definitely not fought anyone like me. No one has until you fight me.
“I feel like the old dog, and then there’s the young guys coming up that’s trying to prove themselves, so it’s my job to send them back down to let them know I’m still here.”
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