Adesanya handed TKO in S’Arabia fight, his career’s third consecutive loss

Israel Adesanya was brutally knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during his first non-title bout in six years.

The result was the former UFC middleweight champion’s second career knockout loss, falling to Nassourdine Imavov via second-round TKO in the main event of UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia.

The Nigerian-Kiwi fighter, who entered the bout on a two-fight losing streak following defeats to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, started well with a series of hard low kicks.

About a minute and a half into the round Imavov made his first effort at a takedown, but was denied by the former champion. The pair then traded shots on the feet before Imavov tried to get Adesanya down yet again.

The second started with Adesanya on the front foot, but things began to turn around when the former champion opted not to take a break after being poked in the eye. He continued pressuring, and Imavov turned it around and landed an overhand right from the Gods to drop his rival.

The end came shortly after the second round began when a massive right hand from the Dagestani-born Frenchman dropped Adesanya to the canvas. Imavov followed up with a left uppercut and ground strikes, forcing referee Marc Goddard to stop the contest.

The former champion protested the call but Goddard stepped in to stop the fight and hand Imavov the biggest win of his career, while Adesanya got his third consecutive loss.