UFC Fight Night Preview: Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov – Fight Card, Start Time, Odds & How to Watch Live

 UFC Fight Night Preview: Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov – Fight Card, Start Time, Odds & How to Watch Live





Don't be fooled by Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov's composed appearances—both fighters have a lot riding on their bout at UFC Fight Night this Saturday. Adesanya is fighting to maintain his place among the middleweight elite, while Imavov is determined to make a name for himself in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Adesanya (24-4) is in unfamiliar territory. The former UFC middleweight champion steps into his first non-title fight since defeating Anderson Silva in February 2019 and his first non-pay-per-view appearance since 2018. With two consecutive losses, he faces the possibility of his first losing streak in a 114-fight combat sports career spanning MMA, kickboxing, and boxing. A victory is critical for Adesanya to remain at the top, though he remains unfazed by external pressures or speculation about a move to another weight class.

"Not really. I put the pressure on myself," Adesanya told CBS Sports ahead of Saturday's event in Riyadh. "Middleweight is where I'm at, so I'm chilling, doing my own thing."

Meanwhile, Imavov (15-4, 1 NC) is relentless in his quest for greatness. Saturday marks his fourth fight in just over a year, showcasing his determination. He sees this as a golden opportunity to secure a middleweight title shot, even with Khamzat Chimaev ahead in the rankings. However, he rejects Adesanya’s claim that the pressure is on him.

"The pressure is on his side," Imavov told CBS Sports through an interpreter. "He has lost two fights in a row and is now fighting a lower-ranked opponent. He doesn’t want to lose to me or drop three straight fights. I know he hates not being a champion."

UFC Fight Night delivers a stronger lineup this week than recent Apex events. Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira and Mike Davis vs. Fares Ziam are solid matchups, but the co-main event steals the spotlight. Sharabutdin "Shara Bullet" Magomedov, fresh off a highlight-reel spinning backfist KO at UFC 308, originally called out Adesanya. Instead, Michael "Venom" Page stepped up, moving up a weight class for the challenge.

"He has an exciting style, very explosive and interesting to watch," Page told CBS Sports. "But I’ve seen and sparred with fighters like him before. I see things I can exploit."

Magomedov is equally confident. "He's never faced a striker like me," Magomedov said through a Russian interpreter. "He'll realize I'm a puzzle he can’t solve—until it's too late."

Additionally, heavyweights Sergei Pavlovich and Jairzinho Rozenstruik clash in another notable bout. Pavlovich, once a rising title contender, suffered back-to-back losses to Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov. Now, he looks to redeem himself against Rozenstruik, who is on a hot streak with three wins in his last four fights.

"I felt that some people turned away, but I don’t pay them much attention," Pavlovich said during media day. "I want to do this for the people who have supported me."

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UFC Fight Night Card & Odds

Favorite Underdog Weight Class
Israel Adesanya (-165) Nassourdine Imavov (+140) Middleweight
Sharabutdin Magomedov (-190) Michael Page (+160) Middleweight
Sergei Pavlovich (-320) Jairzinho Rozenstruik (+250) Heavyweight
Said Nurmagomedov (-160) Vinicius Oliveira (+135) Bantamweight
Mike Davis (-145) Fares Ziam (+122) Lightweight

Viewing Information

  • Date: Feb. 1
  • Start Time: 12 p.m. ET (main card)
  • Location: ANB Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • TV Channel: ESPN+

Prediction

Adesanya vs. Imavov: Adesanya should be a more substantial favorite than the odds suggest. His recent losses came against top-tier middleweights—Sean Strickland’s relentless pressure and Dricus du Plessis’ overpowering aggression. Imavov is well-rounded, but Adesanya excels at dictating the fight’s pace and minimizing errors. Unlike Adesanya’s previous opponents, Imavov lacks a dominant skill set to exploit a weakness. Pereira, Strickland, and du Plessis respectively used striking, pressure, and physicality to defeat Adesanya. It’s difficult to pinpoint a single strength Imavov possesses that could overwhelm the former champ. Prediction: Adesanya wins via Unanimous Decision.

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