Two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has dropped two places to fourth in the latest official UFC rankings following his second-round TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia.
The Nigerian-born New Zealander suffered his third consecutive defeat in 12 months, leading to a significant reshuffle in the middleweight division.
(L-R) Nassourdine Imavov drop Israel Adesanya during the UFC Fight Night event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Imavov has now climbed to the No. 2 ranking, leapfrogging Khamzat Chimaev, despite Chimaev still being the frontrunner to challenge the winner of the Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland championship rematch, according to MMA journalist John Morgan.
Adesanya’s Downward Spiral Continues
At 35 years old, Adesanya entered the bout hoping to snap his first-ever losing streak, having lost his title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 before suffering another setback to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in August 2024.
Against Imavov, Adesanya started well, landing effective low kicks, but his momentum was halted in the second round.
The Dagestani-born French fighter dropped Adesanya with a massive right hand, followed by a left uppercut and a flurry of ground strikes, forcing referee Marc Goddard to stop the contest.
The loss marks the first time in six years and 12 fights that Adesanya has competed without a UFC championship on the line.
His professional MMA record now stands at 24 wins (16 knockouts) and four defeats across a 13-year career.
Middleweight Rankings Shake-Up
Adesanya’s loss has led to notable shifts in the UFC middleweight rankings:
Nassourdine Imavov moves up to No. 2, surpassing Khamzat Chimaev.
Roman Kopylov enters the rankings at No. 14 after his fifth-round TKO win over Chris Curtis in January.
Bo Nickal, the undefeated wrestling prospect, makes his rankings debut at No. 15.
Adesanya’s Response: “I’ll Be Back”
Following the loss, Adesanya took to social media, maintaining his trademark resilience. He posted:
“As real as it gets, @ufc. Rolled the dice…snake eyes. I’ll be back, gone to get some milk.”
With three straight losses and uncertainty surrounding his next move, the road back to the top has never been tougher for “The Last Stylebender.”
