The Fall of a King? Israel Adesanya Breaks Silence After Brutal KO Loss to Nassourdine Imavov 🥶💔
The once-dominant Israel Adesanya is at a crossroads. Four losses in his last five fights. The latest? A shocking second-round knockout at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov on February 1st in UFC 311 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Imavov dropped Adesanya with a crisp shot, then swarmed him with vicious ground-and-pound, forcing the ref to step in. A frustrated Adesanya protested the stoppage, but truth be told, letting it continue could have led to an even worse fate—unconsciousness.
Now, the former middleweight king must confront a new reality: Is his time at the top over? Or can he find a way back?
Round one, I was in control of everything. Maybe I should have taken some time. I just didn’t want him to rest because I knew he was tired…
Adesanya: “I Have to Chill and Think”
Speaking after the fight, Adesanya (now 24-5 in MMA, 16 KOs) refused to make any rash decisions about his future. Retirement? Not yet. But the next few months will be crucial.
🗣️ “I have to chill and then think about things… I’ll relax, help my teammates prepare for fights, and see what I want to do next.”
🔥 He admitted he was
🗣️ “I hate disappointing my fans and my team. My team’s still proud of me for the work I put in… It’s the thrill and agony.”
💭 Did Adesanya get reckless? Looking back, he admits:
🗣️ “Round one, I was in control of everything. Maybe I should have taken some time. I just didn’t want him to rest because I knew he was tired… But hindsight is 20/20.”
What’s Next for The Last Stylebender?
With the middleweight division evolving fast, Adesanya is slipping down the pecking order. Does he have one last championship run left in him? Or is it time to step away?
Meanwhile, Nassourdine Imavov is now knocking on the door of a title shot, calling for a chance at Dricus du Plessis or Sean Strickland—who face off next for the belt.