Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov 2/1/25 – The middleweight class in the UFC is shaping up for yet another shift as a fascinating fight approaches fans across the globe. Israel Adesanya, the previously reigning champion, is set to go against the featherweight hopeful, Nassourdine Imavov, in Fight Night 250. We can expect an intriguing clash of both experience and never-ceasing enthusiasm to perform as both athletes, Adesanya and Imavov, enter the fight with a record of 24-4-0 and 15-4-0 with a single no-contest, respectively.
Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov 2/1/25 Game Info
| When: | Saturday, February 1, 2025 | Time: 12:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | The Venue, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | UFC Fight Pass |
According to the latest wagering odds, Israel Adesanya is considered the favorite at -200, which signifies that he is more likely to win in this bout. On the other hand, Nassourdine Imavov is labeled as the underdog with a +150 but still poses a reasonable chance for the brave gambler, hence making the risk worth it in case of a sensible victory.
Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov 2/1/25 Odds
| Fighter | Odds | Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Israel Adesanya | -200 | Nassourdine Imavov | +150 |
Main Card
Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya, or ‘The Last Stylebender,’ is a striking specialist that is as effective in the octagon as he is flamboyant. With 24 professional wins, Adesanya’s style is predicated on agility and precision and is further supported by an impressive 80 inch reach. His average is 4.00 significant strikes landed a minute at a 48% accuracy. He also gets hit just over 3 times a minute. Defensively, Adesanya boasts a 56% striking defense, which has aided greatly in propelling him to the top of the division.
Adesanya’s history with the UFC’s middleweight division has not been flawless, with a setback against Du Plessis recently, his superb skills as a fighter cannot go unnoticed. Even though he has limited takedown skills with an average of 0.05 per 15 minutes and 12% for accuracy, his standing takedown defense rate of 75% indicates that he has the ability to dictate the pace of the fight on his feet.
Nassourdine Imavov
Coming off a victory over Allen, “The Sniper,” Nassourdine Imavov, competes with an upper hand and has a more diverse grappling record compared to Adesanya. Despite having a slightly shorter reach of 75 inches, Imavov has a striking accuracy of 55% and is able to land 4.51 significant strikes per minute. While his striking defense sits at 58%, the amount of damage he receives is almost equal, averaging 3.20 strikes per minute.
Imavov’s grappling statistics may help him formulate a game plan while competing against Adesanya’s striking. Unlike his opponents, he has managed to accumulate a 36% takedown accuracy and averages 0.88 takedowns every 15 minutes. Imavov also makes an average of 1.2 submissions every 15 minutes, which would help him limit Adesanya’s striking flexibility.
Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov Betting Numbers
| Record | 24-4-0 | 15-4-0 (1 NC) |
| Last Fight | Loss | Win |
| Country | Nigeria | France |
| Height | 6′ 4″ | 6′ 3″ |
| Weight (lbs) | 185 | 185 |
| Reach (in) | 80″ | 75″ |
| Win by KO/TKO | 67% | 40% |
| Win by Submission | 0% | 27% |
| Decisions | 33% | 33% |
| Strikes landed per minute | 4.00 | 4.51 |
| Striking accuracy | 48% | 55% |
| Striking absorbed per minute | 3.21 | 3.20 |
| Striking defense | 56% | 58% |
| Takedown average | 0.05 | 0.88 |
| Takedown accuracy | 12% | 36% |
| Takedown defense | 75% | 78% |
| Submission average | 0.1 | 1.2 |
Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov Summary
The contest between Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov is developing into a typical striker meets grappler affair. Imavov’s mixed attack with grappling will prove to be a strong challenge for Adesanya who’s striking is precise and tactical. Adesanya is expected to attempt to control the fight and pace it to remain standing. On the other hand, Imavov seeking to win will attempt to close the distance, grapple, and force Adesanya to uncomfortable positions on the ground.
There are important dynamics at play, but Imavov’s recent performances suggest that he is more than capable of causing an upset hence making Adesanya the favorite of the bout. Even though, Adesanya has a proven track record at the peak of the sport and the ability to manage distance and pace. If Imavov is able to take advantage of the gaps in Adesanya’s ground defense, the odds will favor Imavov. That said, at the moment, there are perceived gaps in the range defense of Adesanya so it will be interesting to see if these concealed weaknesses can be exploited. Nonetheless, this bout appears intriguing for both fans and bettors and marks Adesanya vs Imavov as a live underdog fight.
