Sports

BREAKING: Adesanya Suffers Second Career Knockout Defeat

Published

1 month ago

Feb 1, 2025.

Adesanya Suffers Second Career Knockout Defeat

Israel Adesanya suffered a shocking knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov in Saudi Arabia.
Imavov floored Adesanya in the second round after an eye poke incident.
The defeat raises doubts about Adesanya’s future in UFC after consecutive losses.

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya suffered a stunning knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov at a UFC event in Saudi Arabia on Saturday morning.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the defeat came in the second round when Imavov landed a powerful right hand, sending Adesanya to the canvas before finishing him off, prompting the referee to step in. This loss marks Adesanya’s third consecutive setback, raising serious questions about his future in the sport.

The fight was not without controversy, as Adesanya was accidentally poked in the eye just moments before the decisive blow. Although he quickly signaled to the referee that he was fit to continue, his guard appeared to be down, leaving him vulnerable to Imavov’s knockout strike.

Adesanya had looked sharp in the first round, controlling the action with a mix of high kicks and strong striking, effectively utilizing his reach advantage. He also successfully defended against a takedown attempt and appeared to be in good physical condition, an improvement from his previous loss to Dricus Duplessis. However, a warning sign emerged late in the round when Imavov landed a straight right hand, foreshadowing what was to come.

Despite his solid start, a lapse in concentration in the second round proved costly.

Adesanya Suffers Second Career Knockout Defeat

Adesanya’s latest defeat brings his professional record to 24 wins and five losses. As the 35-year-old now faces an uncertain future, speculation is mounting over whether the former two-time middleweight champion can make another comeback or if this marks the beginning of the end of his illustrious UFC career.