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Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya claims he brings excitement to the division ahead of his return bout against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Riyadh next month, PUNCH Sports Extra reports....READ THE FULL CONTENT FROM THE SOURCE | READ THE FULL CONTENT FROM THE SOURCE
Speaking to MMA Junkie, the Nigerian-born fighter expressed confidence in his ability to reinvigorate the middleweight division.
“Without me, middleweight is getting boring. So, it’s time to make it interesting,” Adesanya said.
“For the fans who love the buzz before the fight, the preparation will be boring, but the fight itself will be very exciting. For me, the most important thing is to prove to myself that I’m still the guy. I know I’m one of the best, if not the best.”
The 35-year-old has been preparing for his comeback by training with former rival Robert Whittaker, whom he defeated twice during his reign as champion. Their surprising partnership drew reactions from several UFC stars on social media.
Whittaker, who lost his title to Adesanya via second-round knockout at UFC 243 in 2019 before dropping a unanimous decision in their 2022 rematch, believes his former rival remains the favourite against Imavov.
“I’d have to lean into Izzy being the favourite. Like he’s so good at what he does,” Whittaker said on his YouTube channel.”
“But Imavov’s a bit of a dog. He can go the distance. His striking is good. I can see him pushing the pace, pushing the pressure to try to make Adesanya make errors, much like how Dricus (Du Plessis) fought him.”
The bout will mark Adesanya’s first appearance since losing his title to Du Plessis at UFC 305 last August, which followed another defeat to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.
A victory over the fifth-ranked Imavov at the February 1 event could potentially earn Adesanya another title shot or at least a number one contender bout...READ THE FULL CONTENT FROM THE SOURCE
