Demotion? Saudi Arabia Isn’t ‘The F—ing Apex’

Anyone commenting on Adesanya’s ‘demotion’ doesn’t understand how important headlining a Saudi Arabia card is, regardless of the opponent.

Israel Adesanya is set to return to action on February 1st in Saudi Arabia where he takes on Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of a UFC Fight Night. It’s the first time since 2019 that he hasn’t been headlining a pay-per-view, and Imavov isn’t exactly the most exciting match-up the UFC could make for one of their biggest stars.

But after two losses in a row to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, this step down may be exactly what “The Last Stylebender” needs to get his groove back. In a new interview on his YouTube channel, Adesanya discussed the Imavov bout and how he’s happy with the position he’s in.

“I still get paid,” he said. “There’s still a referee, it’s two of us in there, there’s a crowd. It’s not like in the f—ing Apex or something, so it doesn’t feel any different. I think people are making it out to be something, how they would react to it. But they’re not in my shoes, they’re not in my shorts.”

“It’s a Saudi Arabia Fight Night, first of all. I still get paid. It still feels like you’re fighting Israel Adesanya. This is the biggest fight of his his life. I have to be the one to halt [him]. It still feels the same. It doesn’t feel any different.”

Izzy is correct: there’s a thousand miles of difference between a typical UFC Fight Night held in the soulless Apex and a special UFC Fight Night being held in Saudi Arabia. Adesanya is the second superstar headliner being brought to Riyadh and the first that will actually show up on fight day. To be the guy the UFC leans on when they need to impress the Saudis shows you just how important “Stylebender” is, even without a belt.

As for his opponent, Imavov?

“I’ve seen his fights,” Adesanya said. “I know he’s dangerous. I know he’s slick. I like his style. He’s got like, it’s not bad footwork. Very well rounded.”

While Imavov is ranked No. 5 at middleweight, he’s undoubtedly the least established name Adesanya has fought in years. But Izzy says he’s still motivated to get up and train hard every day despite that.

“It’s not about him. It’s about me,” Adesanya said. “Even though he’s the guy I’m fighting, it’s about me. It’s about improving … Just because you’re not fighting for a title — you got a motherf—er swinging at you, trying to take your head off. You’re up. You wake up. You better be up.”

UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov goes down on February 1st from Saudi Arabia as part of the country’s Riyadh Season celebrations. Also on the card: Shara “Bullet” Magomedov vs. Michael “Venom” Page and Mateusz Gamrot vs. Rafael Fiziev.