Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya suffered his second career knockout loss on Saturday night, falling to Nassourdine Imavov via second-round TKO in the main event of UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia.
The Nigerian-Kiwi fighter, coming off back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, started strong, using hard low k+cks to control the distance. However, Imavov remained composed, landing a stiff shovel hook that snapped Adesanya’s head back in the first round.
The momentum shifted completely in the second round when Imavov dropped Adesanya with a massive right hand. The Dagestani-born Frenchman followed up with a sharp left uppercut and relentless ground strikes, leaving referee Marc Goddard no choice but to stop the fight.
With this victory, Imavov secures the biggest win of his career, while Adesanya faces his third consecutive defeat, raising questions about his future in the UFC.
