Israel Adesanya a two-time former UFC middleweight champion, acknowledges feeling like the “old dog” in the sport as he faces a new generation of rising fighters. The 35-year-old Nigerian-born New Zealander will fight France’s Nassourdine Imavov in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday. This bout marks a significant moment in his career as he enters the octagon without a championship on the line for the first time in 13 fights.
Adesanya is coming off back-to-back defeats—the first time in his 13-year MMA career. He lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland in 2023 and then fell to Dricus du Plessis in another title fight the following year. Despite these setbacks, Adesanya remains confident and motivated, dismissing concerns about his legacy. “I joked about being a ‘gatekeeper,’ but I feel like the experienced fighter defending against younger challengers,” Adesanya said. “It’s my job to show them I’m still here and send them back down.”
Adesanya insists he is fighting for himself rather than chasing titles or proving anything to others. “If I lost my next 10 fights, it wouldn’t affect my legacy,” he said. “This fight is about proving to myself that I’m still in the game, improving and dangerous.” His opponent, the 28-year-old Imavov, comes into the contest with momentum, riding a three-fight winning streak including a victory over Brendan Allen in September.
While Israel Adesanya acknowledges fighting for his team, family, and fans, he emphasizes that this bout is deeply personal. “I’m not chasing anything. The belt always comes back around. I’m just doing what I love,” he said.
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