In the main event, two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya squares off against Nassourdine Imavov in a top middleweight contest. Adesanya has lost three of his past four fights, while Imavov has won three straight after one no-contest in his past four outings.
Shara Magomedov battles Michael Page in a middleweight contest in the co-main event.
Adesanya (24-4) is in an unusual place. The former UFC middleweight champion competes in his first non-title fight since beating Anderson Silva in February 2019. It’s also his first non-pay-per-view fight since July 2018.
Adesanya is on the verge of his first losing streak in 114 combined combat sports fights across mixed martial arts, kickboxing and boxing, dating back to 2010. A win is crucial if Adesanya wants to remain among the middleweight elite. Despite the immense stakes, Adesanya refuses to bear outside pressure or consider options in another weight class.
“Not really. I put the pressure on myself,” Adesanya told CBS Sports ahead of Saturday’s card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “If that’s how he feels, that’s how he feels. I’ve been here before.
“Middleweight is where I’m at so I’m chilling, doing my own thing.”
Imavov (15-4, 1 NC) has been relentless in his pursuit of glory. Saturday marks his fourth time competing in 363 days. Imavov’s output has rewarded him with the biggest fight of his career.
The Frenchman believes a win secures him a middleweight title shot. Khamzat Chimaev might be ahead of Imavov in the pecking order, but Imavov’s reliability makes him a prime candidate if the UFC calls. Saturday’s fight is the biggest of Imavov’s career, but he shrugs off Adesanya’s assertion that the pressure is on him.
“The pressure is on his side,” Imavov told CBS Sports through a French interpreter. “The fact he already lost two fights in a row. Now he’s fighting a lower-ranked guy. He doesn’t want to lose to me or lose three times in a row. I know he hates not being a champion. I consider the pressure to be on his side.
“After the fight, it’s the belt. If I have to wait, I’ll wait. If I have to replace someone to fight for the belt, I’ll do it. I’m always ready to fight.”
