A thrilling main event middleweight fight between two-time UFC champion Israel Adesanya of New Zealand and France’s rising star Nassourdine Imavov will bring the impressive lineup of mixed martial arts (MMA) talent to Saudi Arabia.
A highly anticipated fight will take place in the co-main event between Michael Page, a powerful punching Briton, and Shara Magomedov’s all-around greatness from Russia.
Everything you need to know about UFC Fight Night 250 is listed below.
When will the Adesanya-Imavov fight occur?
The fight is scheduled for Saturday, February 1.
Where is the Adesanya-Imavov fight taking place?
The fight will be held at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
When is the Adesanya-Imavov cage walk?
On Saturday, Adesanya and Imavov will begin their cage walks at around 11 p.m. local time (20:00 GMT).
The main undercard fights are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. local time (17:00 GMT).
Adesanya and Imavov are fighting for what?
Adesanya will face Imavov in a non-UFC title fight for the first time in six years.
On September 10, 2023, Sean Strickland stunned Adesanya, taking the UFC middleweight title away from the New Zealander.
On August 14, 2024, Adesanya lost a shot at regaining the title in a fourth-round defeat to UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia.
Meanwhile, Imavov comes into Saturday’s fight on a three-fight unbeaten streak with impressive victories over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier and Brendan Allen.
It’s possible that Adesanya will be the next contender to win the UFC middleweight title if the Frenchman can defeat him in a blockbuster fight at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, on February 8.
Where can I watch the live Adesanya vs. Imavov matchup?
On Saturday, February 1 at 16:00 GMT, Al Jazeera will broadcast live text and photo coverage of the match.
The fight will be broadcast live on a variety of regional platforms, including ESPN+ in the US, TNT Sports in the UK, and UFC’s Fight Pass.
How long will the Adesanya-Imavov fight last?
Title fights typically last the longest, with title fights typically having the longest rounds and the length of each round.
The Adesanya vs. Imavov fight will take place over five five-minute rounds in this case.
Who is Israel Adesanya?
Nigerian-born, New Zealand-raised Adesanya is the number two ranked fighter in the UFC’s 185-pound (84kg), middleweight division – but is riding the first two-fight losing skid of his UFC career.
The 35-year-old kickboxer started his professional career in 2012 as an accomplished kickboxer before switching to MMA.
The 1.93m (Six feet, four inches) Adesanya signed on with the UFC in December 2017, going on to become a two-time UFC middleweight champion before losing the title in 2023 in an upset loss to Strickland.
Who is Nassourdine Imavov?
The French mixed martial artist, who was born in Dagestan in Russia before moving to Salon-de-Provence when he was just nine years old, began his professional MMA career in 2016.
Imamov, 29, made his UFC debut in 2020, and his most recent fight was against Brendan Allen on September 28, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 243 where he won by unanimous decision.
Imavov, who stands 1.9m (six foot, three inches), is currently at a career-best fifth ranking in the highly competitive UFC middleweight division.
What’s Adesanya’s UFC fight record?
- Fights:  , 28
- Wins: 24
- Losses: 4
What’s Imavov’s UFC fight record?
- Fights: 20
- Wins: 15
- Losses: 4
- No Contests: 1
What has Adesanya said about the conflict?
On Imavov:  , “Definitely, the pressure’s on him (Imamov). But again, I always put pressure on myself when I get there because I’m Israel Adesanya. There’s always that pressure, but he’s going to have to be the one rising to the occasion – if he has it in him. I can stop him with my strength.
What has Imavov said about the conflict?
On Adesanya: “It’s a huge fight (against Adesanya). When they made the fight known, I was so excited. Since I moved to the UFC, I’ve been looking for this fight. I’m thrilled to fight against Israel Adesanya, a legend, against him.
Who is on the main undercard?
In preparation for the Adesanya vs. Imavov headline fight in Riyadh, four main undercard events are listed, including the co-main event, which pits Michael Page against emerging star Shara Magomedov in a highly anticipated middleweight fight, are listed.
- Middleweight: Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Page
- Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
- Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira
- Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli
Has Saudi Arabia ever hosted a UFC fight?
Ultimate Fighting Championship makes its second appearance in the Middle East with UFC Fight Night 250, but this time it’s the first time it’s been done in a full-fledged manner. This is the most highly-promoted UFC event ever held in the Middle East.
Source: Aljazeera
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