Nassourdine Imavov Stuns Israel Adesanya with Second-Round TKO in UFC Showdown

Nassourdine Imavov stunned Israel Adesanya with a second-round technical knockout in their UFC middleweight bout at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 28-year-old French fighter delivered a decisive overhand right that sent Adesanya crashing to the canvas before finishing the fight with a flurry of strikes.

The loss marks Adesanya’s third consecutive defeat in the UFC and his fifth overall. The 35-year-old Nigerian-New Zealander had previously suffered losses to Sean Strickland in 2023 and South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis in August 2024.

Despite his recent struggles, Adesanya’s camp had expressed confidence in his preparation for this fight. In the opening round, he showed sharper focus and engaged in a technical battle with Imavov, defending takedown attempts and landing counters. A late uppercut from Imavov briefly rocked Adesanya, but he responded with a right hook as the round ended.

Early in the second round, Adesanya appeared to be controlling the pace before Imavov set a trap. A feint jab drew Adesanya’s reaction, leaving him open for a powerful overhand right. The strike sent him sprawling to the mat, and Imavov capitalized with a relentless series of punches, forcing the referee to stop the fight.

The victory is a career-defining moment for Imavov, who now cements himself as a serious contender in the middleweight division. Meanwhile, Adesanya faces mounting questions about his future in the sport after another devastating loss.