The UFC returns after a one-week hiatus for the first event of a nine-week marathon with UFC Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 1.
The headliners for the event are former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and rising hopeful Nassourdine Imavov. This is the first time Adesanya will compete in a non-UFC title fight since he fought Anderson Silva in February 2019.
Adesanya lost his title to Sean Strickland in 2023 and then lost a shot at the title versus Dricus Du Plessis in 2024. He hasn't won a fight since he knocked out Alex Pereira in 2023.
Imavov comes into the fight on a three-fight win streak, holding victories over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier, and Brendan Allen. If he can beat Adesanya it will put him into title contention and potentially face the winner of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland.
DAZN News has everything you need to know ahead of Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov.
Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov fight date, start time
Due to the fight taking place in the Middle East, it will still air at an earlier-than-normal start time. Please make sure to set your alarms.
- Date: Saturday, February 1
- Main card start time: 5pm GMT / 12pm ET
- Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov main event cagewalks (approx): 8pm GMT / 3pm ET
How to watch Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov
- US: ESPN+
- UK: TNT Sports
Fans in the U.S. can stream the fight on ESPN+ (click here for more information), while TNT Sports will broadcast the fight in the UK.
Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov fight card
Main Card
- Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov, Middleweight
- Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Page, Middleweight
- Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Heavyweight
- Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira, Bantamweight
- Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli. Featherweight
Prelims
- Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen, Heavyweight
- Damir Hadzovic vs. Terrance McKinney, Lightweight
- Mike Davis vs. Fares Ziam, Lightweight
- Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva, Women's Flyweight
- Lucas Alexander vs. Bogdan Grad, Featherweight
- Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues, Heavyweight
- Abdul-Kerim Al-Selwady vs. Bolaji Oki, Lightweight
Where is the Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov fight?
UFC Saudi Arabia takes place in anb Arena in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.
Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov tale of the tape
Israel Adesanya record
- Nationality: Nigerian & New Zealander
- Age: 35
- Height: 6' 4"
- Reach: 80"
- Total fights: 28
- Record: 24-4-0
Nassourdine Imavov record
- Nationality: French
- Age: 29
- Height: 6' 3"
- Reach: 75"
- Total fights: 20
- Record: 15-4-1
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