Pros React To Adesanya’s Loss To Imavov – ‘Hate To See Izzy Lose

February 2, 2025
2 weeks
Pros React To Adesanya's Loss To Imavov - 'Hate To See Izzy Lose'

Israel Adesanya suffered his third consecutive loss, as MMA pros gave their reaction. 

Nassourdine Imavov knocked out Adesanya at UFC Saudi in the second round. He has now lost in two consecutive fights and a non-title fight in his last three bouts. After a positive start, the fight unravelled in a defeat. Adesanya was landing leg kicks and using his movement to keep Imamov on the back foot. But Imamov landed a right hand to warn Adesanya.

That was the shot that ultimately ended the fight. He buckled Adesanya with his right hand. Adesanya hit the deck as Imamov followed up with a flurry to end the fight. Izzy now has a decision to make. He can either retire, knowing that he is a former UFC Middleweight Champion. Alternatively, he can continue fighting to secure a win before walking away. The chances of getting a title shot are now unlikely. Here is how the MMA pros reacted.

“I don’t know [what’s next for me]. I’ll have to chill and then think about things. I will relax first for a little bit, just help the teammates who have fights coming up. Yeah, I’ll see what I want to do. I was going to do that anyway, but now I’m forced to. Shoutout to Nassourdine for that. He must be excited, beat a guy like me. But again, I felt good. Round 1, I was in control of everything,” Adesanya stated 

Pros React

“Nobody saw that coming. I’m telling you right now. Yes, Imavov his whole team. They planned it. They saw it. [And] they worked for it. They drilled it, okay? But nobody picked that tonight. Absolutely not. That is a huge upset, a massive upset.

“It doesn’t matter how you start, it’s how you finish and he finished face down on the octagon. I’ve got tremendous respect for the champion, he had a wonderful career. Tonight it looks like it might be the beginning of the end of an incredible career, sadly. And this is a crazy thing to say, he has now lost four out of his last five, which if you ever said that out loud a couple of years ago people would think you were absolutely crazy,” Michael Bisping said

Full Card

Nassourdine Imavov knocked out Israel Adesanya 30 seconds into round two

Michael “Venom” Page defeated Sharabutdin Magomedov by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)

Sergei Pavlovich beat Jairzinho Rozenstruik by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)

Vinicius Oliveira won against Said Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)

Fares Ziam defeated Mike Davis by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27

Prelims

Muhammad Naimov won against Kaan Ofli by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)

Shamil Gaziev stopped Thomas Petersen by TKO at 3:12 of round one

Terrance McKinney defeated Damir Hadzovic by TKO at 2:01 of round one

Jasmine Jasudavicius beat Mayra Bueno Silva by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)

Bogdan Grad stopped Lucas Alexander by TKO at 4:22 of round two

Hamdy Abdelwahab edged out Jamal Pogues by split decision (27–30, 29–28, 29–28)

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