- Israel Adesanya aims to reinvigorate the UFC middleweight division with his return at UFC Fight Night 250.
- Adesanya partners with former rival Robert Whittaker in training ahead of his bout against Nassourdine Imavov.
- Whittaker predicts Adesanya will remain the favourite for his comeback fight despite the competitive nature of the middleweight division.
Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes his return will bring excitement to the division ahead of his fight with Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Riyadh next month.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, the Nigerian-born fighter emphasized his importance in reinvigorating the middleweight category.
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“Without me, middleweight is getting boring. So, it’s time to make it interesting,” Adesanya said.
He added, “For the fans who love the buzz before the fight, the preparation will be boring, but the fight itself will be very exciting. For me, the most important thing is to prove to myself that I’m still the guy. I know I’m one of the best, if not the best.”
The 35-year-old has been training with former rival Robert Whittaker, whom he defeated twice during his reign as champion. Their unexpected partnership has sparked reactions across social media from UFC stars.
Whittaker, who lost the title to Adesanya via second-round knockout at UFC 243 in 2019 and dropped a unanimous decision in their 2022 rematch, still sees Adesanya as the favourite against Imavov.
“I’d have to lean into Izzy being the favourite. Like he’s so good at what he does,” Whittaker said on his YouTube channel.”
“But Imavov’s a bit of a dog. He can go the distance. His striking is good. I can see him pushing the pace, pushing the pressure to try to make Adesanya make errors, much like how Dricus (Du Plessis) fought him.”
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This fight will be Adesanya’s first since losing his title to Du Plessis at UFC 305 last August, following a previous defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
A win over fifth-ranked Imavov at the February 1 event could put Adesanya in line for another title shot or at least a number one contender match.
