Israel Adesanya thinks that Nassourdine Imavov can show Khamzat Chimaev what he’s made of if they fight for the middleweight championship.
Imavov stopped Adesanya earlier this year and followed it up with a clear decision win over Caio Borralho at UFC Paris. That victory positioned him as a leading contender for Chimaev’s belt, alongside the upcoming Reinier de Ridder vs. Anthony Hernandez matchup.
Israel Adesanya on Khamzat Chimaev Vs Nassourdine Imavov fight
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Adesanya explained that Imavov’s success depends on neutralizing Chimaev’s wrestling.
“If he can take away the wrestling from Khamzat, he’ll give him problems,” Adesanya said. “That’s what you have to do. Khamzat can strike, but his wrestling is his main weapon. He gets the grip; he takes people down and keeps them there. If Nassourdine can get past that, he’ll give Khamzat problems.”
Chimaev won the middleweight title by decisively defeating Dricus Du Plessis in a unanimous decision at UFC 319, dominating him on the ground for all five rounds. Adesanya praised Imavov’s precision in Paris, calling him a “sniper,” and also highlighted the strong performance of Benoît Saint Denis, who submitted Mauricio Ruffy in the co-main event.
Khamzat Chimaev future in UFC: Who will be the next number one contender
Khamzat Chimaev’s future in UFC is currently very uncertain. His first title defense is already shaping up to be a big question in the UFC middleweight division. After winning the belt at UFC 319 by dominating Dricus du Plessis with his wrestling, Chimaev called out Reinier de Ridder, the #5-ranked contender.
De Ridder, a former two-division champion in ONE Championship, is considered one of the strongest grapplers at 185 lbs. He recently made a big statement in his UFC run by defeating former champion Robert Whittaker in July. He has also said he is “100% ready” to face Chimaev at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi.
At the same time, Nassourdine Imavov is officially ranked as the #1 contender and just secured his fifth straight UFC win. However, because Imavov was already booked against Caio Borralho, De Ridder might “sneak in” for the title shot first if timing works out.
Also Read: Israel Adesanya on Khamzat Chimaev Vs Imavov
So right now, the number one contender on paper is Imavov, but the most likely challenger for UFC 321 is Reinier de Ridder. Chimaev is still the undefeated middleweight champion (15-0 MMA), and UFC usually lines up top contenders quickly, but the promotion hasn’t announced his next opponent yet.
FAQs
Q. Did Israel Adesanya lose to Nassourdine Imavov?
A. Nassourdine Imavov was able to defeat Israel Adesanya by a technical knockout in the second round of their fight on Feb 1 in the main event of UFC Fight Night.
Q. Has Nassourdine Imavov lost any fight in his UFC career?
A. In his professional career in the UFC, Nassourdine Imavov has lost 4 fights.
Q. Has Khamzat Chimaev ever lost a fight in his UFC career?
A. Chimaev has a 15-0 record, and he recently became UFC middleweight champion after defeating Dricus Du Plessis.
Q. Is Nassourdine Imavov a boxer?
A. No. Chimaev is a French mixed martial artist who fights in the UFC middleweight division.
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