Adesanya v Imavov betting preview & top picks | UFC Saudi Arabia

Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will be out to recapture lost glory when he squares off against Nassourdine Imavov to headline UFC Fight Night at the anb Arena in Riyadh this Saturday night. The contest presents an opportunity for Imavov to signal that he is ready to face the very best at 185 pounds with a victory over one of the division’s most dominant athletes. Read on for our full fight preview and free UFC betting predictions.

Adesanya v Imavov UFC Fight Night main event preview

Israel Adesanya vs Nassourdine Imavov

Israel Adesanya (24-4-0) has endured a tough stretch since 2022, losing to Alex Pereira, Sean Strickland, and Dricus du Plessis as the 35-year-old inches toward retirement. The only bright spot during this period was a fortunate knockout win over Pereira in April 2023 when Adesanya was backed against the ropes and appeared to be in trouble. The former middleweight champion now faces a drop in class as he hopes to recapture some winning form.

Adesanya’s slide comes after the Nigeria-born fighter dominated the 185-pound division for almost five years, starting in 2018. The decline appears to be more a psychological issue than a physical one, although his reflexes appear to have slowed slightly in recent appearances. Adesanya has lost the aura of invincibility that typified his long championship reign, and he now often appears reluctant to engage opponents and expose himself to danger.

Nassourdine Imavov (15-4-0) enters this main event after consecutive wins over Brendan Allen, Jared Cannonier, and Roman Dolidze. The Frenchman should be filled with confidence and hungry to capitalise on this opportunity to advance his title aspirations. An impressive display could conceivably earn Imavov a title shot against the winner of the upcoming championship bout between Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland.

As the younger and fresher athlete, Imavov boasts a more solid chin and greater cardio capacity. The 29-year-old has never been knocked out throughout his professional career and should have no fear standing and trading with Adesanya. He will need to close the distance against a taller and longer opponent, but if Imavov can overcome this challenge, he should have an excellent chance of scoring an upset in Riyadh.

Adesanya v Imavov UFC Fight Night predictions

Adesanya has been installed as a slight favourite with top UFC betting sites for this contest, based largely on exploits achieved prior to 2022. It is always risky to take short odds when a fighter is in decline, so we are leaning toward Imavov to emerge with the spoils given his superior form and other stated advantages. For those hunting additional value, Imavov by points might be the way to go, but for safety reasons, backing him straight-up is the better option.

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