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Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov – Odds and Match Preview

Let’s take a closer look at Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov. The upcoming UFC Fight Night main event on…

Let’s take a closer look at Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov. The upcoming UFC Fight Night main event on February 1, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, features a high-stakes middleweight clash between former two-time champion Israel Adesanya and rising contender Nassourdine Imavov. This bout is pivotal for both fighters as they aim to solidify their positions in the division.

Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov – Odds

The betting odds for the middleweight headliner between Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov have shown some fluctuation leading up to the fight. As of January 27, 2025, Adesanya remains the betting favorite, but the odds have tightened slightly over time. MMA fans can keep a close eye on the odds at the Best UFC Online Betting Sites for full information.

Initially, Adesanya opened as a -190 favorite (implying a 65.5% chance of winning), while Imavov was a +160 underdog (39% implied probability). Since then, Adesanya’s odds have shifted to around -180 to -186, depending on the sportsbook, meaning his implied chances of winning now sit closer to 61-63%. Meanwhile, Imavov’s odds have moved from approximately +140 to +144, reflecting a slight increase in confidence from bettors in his ability to pull off an upset.

This shift likely reflects public perception of Adesanya’s recent struggles. He is coming off back-to-back losses, including a submission defeat to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305. Conversely, Imavov is on a three-fight win streak against strong competition, which has bolstered his reputation as a legitimate threat.

For the Nigerian-Kiwi Israel Adesanya, this fight represents a critical opportunity to prove he remains a top contender in the middleweight division. After suffering three losses in his last four fights, most notably to Sean Strickland and current champion Dricus Du Plessis, Adesanya is looking to bounce back and reassert himself as a dominant force. A win could propel him back into title contention.

For the French-born Nassourdine Imavov, this is the biggest fight of his career. Ranked fifth in the division, Imavov is coming off an impressive three-fight win streak against top-tier opponents like Jared Cannonier and Brendan Allen. A victory over a legend like Adesanya could leapfrog him into title contention, potentially ahead of Khamzat Chimaev, depending on his performance.

‘The Last Stylebender’ Adesanya’s kickboxing background is evident in his precise striking, creative combinations, and masterful use of feints to manipulate opponents. Adesanya excels at maintaining range with his reach advantage and is adept at counter-striking when opponents overcommit.

While not possessing overwhelming power or speed, Imavov compensates with excellent footwork, defensive awareness, and a diverse striking arsenal. He can mix in grappling when needed but lacks dominant top control. Imavov’s calm demeanor allows him to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes.

This matchup promises an intriguing clash of styles: Adesanya’s elite striking against Imavov’s well-rounded approach. Both fighters are under immense pressure to deliver; Adesanya to maintain relevance at the top, and Imavov to prove he belongs among the elite.

Demetrious Johnson Explains Why Jon Jones Would Be a Terrible Partner in a Street Fight

Jon Jones is perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist on the planet, but Demetrious Johnson thinks he’d be terrible…

Jon Jones is perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist on the planet, but Demetrious Johnson thinks he’d be terrible backup in a street fight.

During a recent appearance on Johnson’s MightyCast podcast, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson got into a few hypotheticals with the flyweight great, one of them being which MMA fighter you would want on your side in a street fight. Understandably, ‘Rampage’ quickly named the two pound-for-pound best fighters in the world today, undisputed heavyweight champion Jon Jones and lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev.

“If I’m finna go into this dark alley, you know what I’m saying, and they say you can have one person with you to help you fight, I’m gonna say Jon Jones,” Jackson said. “I’m not gonna say Islam, you know what I’m saying. That’s me, what I think.”

However, Johnson was quick to disagree. Particularly when it comes to ‘Bones’ whom he suggested would probably turn on you and join the other side in stealing all your stuff.

“I don’t know, man,” Johnson said. “I think you’re picking the wrong person. I think Jon Jones might rob you and join sides with the other guys.”

Of course, Demetrious Johnson’s comment is a clear reference to the slew of legal troubles ‘Bones’ has found himself in over the years, the most recently being a situation where he allegedly threatened to kill a drug tester who was dispatched to his house to collect a sample in March 2024.

‘DJ’ Dubs Francis Ngannou, not Jon Jones, the best heavyweight in MMA

It’s certainly not the first time ‘Mighty Mouse’ has thrown some shade at Jones. Shortly after seeing ‘Bones’ dispatch Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, Johnson dubbed Francis Ngannou the best heavyweight in the world, noting that ‘The Predator’ brutally KO’d Miocic years before Jones got there.

“I think, right now, Francis Ngannou is probably the best heavyweight in the world,” Johnson told MMA Fighting. “I truly believe that. After seeing what he did to his last opponent [Renan Ferreira], he beat Stipe, [and] knocked him out four years ago.”

Demetrious Johnson Explains Why Jon Jones Would Be a Terrible Partner in a Street Fight

Jon Jones is perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist on the planet, but Demetrious Johnson thinks he’d be terrible…

Jon Jones is perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist on the planet, but Demetrious Johnson thinks he’d be terrible backup in a street fight.

“If I’m finna go into this dark alley, you know what I’m saying, and they say you can have one person with you to help you fight, I’m gonna say Jon Jones,” Jackson said. “I’m not gonna say Islam, you know what I’m saying. That’s me, what I think.”

However, Johnson was quick to disagree. Particularly when it comes to ‘Bones’ whom he suggested would probably turn on you and join the other side in stealing all your stuff.

“I don’t know, man,” Johnson said. “I think you’re picking the wrong person. I think Jon Jones might rob you and join sides with the other guys.”

‘DJ’ Dubs Francis Ngannou, not Jon Jones, the best heavyweight in MMA

“I think, right now, Francis Ngannou is probably the best heavyweight in the world,” Johnson told MMA Fighting. “I truly believe that. After seeing what he did to his last opponent [Renan Ferreira], he beat Stipe, [and] knocked him out four years ago.”

Why Does Jiri Prochazka Keep is Hands Low? ‘I Don’t Need to Defend Myself’

Jiri Prochazka isn’t interested in defending himself inside the Octagon. The former UFC light heavyweight champion scored another big…

Jiri Prochazka isn’t interested in defending himself inside the Octagon.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion scored another big win on MMA’s biggest stage earlier this month, scoring a third-round knockout against ex-titleholder Jamahal Hill at UFC 311 in Los Angeles.

Prochazka’s clash with Hill was nothing short of a slugfest with the Czech often choosing to keep his hands low and eating anything and everything ‘Sweet Dreams’ threw his way. It was a familiar sight as Prochazka often deploys this style of fighting, and thus far it has served him pretty well aside from a couple of brutal knockout losses against the division’s reigning champion, Alex Pereira.

Jiri Prochazka tries to read his opponent’s mind

Offering some insight into why he chooses to keep his hands low, Prochazka explained it in very simple terms — he doesn’t need to defend himself.

“With the hands up is one way,” Prochazka said during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. “With the hands down, this is your natural posture. You spend most of the time in this. This, for me, means defending. I don’t need to defend myself when I see everything, when I feel everything. That’s why I don’t need to keep my hands up, because I’m crazy enough to go through, to be in the moment, to stress my body so much in this situation—to see every movement, every start of the movement of my opponent—that I can react before he starts.

“The next level is to try to read the thinking of the opponent, to know what he wants to do before he does it.”

In 31 career wins, Jiri Prochazka has 27 career knockouts, four of those coming under the UFC banner. What’s next for ‘BJP’ remains to be seen, but if Pereira manages to get past Magomed Ankalaev in March, we could be looking at a third showdown between Prochazka and ‘Poatan’ this summer.

Why Does Jiri Prochazka Keep is Hands Low? ‘I Don’t Need to Defend Myself’

Jiri Prochazka isn’t interested in defending himself inside the Octagon. The former UFC light heavyweight champion scored another big…

Jiri Prochazka isn’t interested in defending himself inside the Octagon.

Jiri Prochazka tries to read his opponent’s mind

Offering some insight into why he chooses to keep his hands low, Prochazka explained it in very simple terms — he doesn’t need to defend himself.

“With the hands up is one way,” Prochazka said during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. “With the hands down, this is your natural posture. You spend most of the time in this. This, for me, means defending. I don’t need to defend myself when I see everything, when I feel everything. That’s why I don’t need to keep my hands up, because I’m crazy enough to go through, to be in the moment, to stress my body so much in this situation—to see every movement, every start of the movement of my opponent—that I can react before he starts.

“The next level is to try to read the thinking of the opponent, to know what he wants to do before he does it.”

Dustin Poirier reveals he will not fight at UFC 314 in Miami: ‘Trust me, I have something cooking’

Former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has revealed he is not in line to make potentially his final mixed…

Former interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier has revealed he is not in line to make potentially his final mixed martial arts walk at UFC 314 in Miami, Florida, however, maintains he has news of his return to action “cooking” ahead of an imminent return.

Poirier, the current number four ranked lightweight challenger, has yet to feature since last summer, where he headlined UFC 302 in his third undisputed title charge in the promotion.

Dustin Poirier backed by Dana White to make UFC return: 'You can never count him out'

And dropping an eventual fifth round submission loss to current pound-for-pound number one, Lafayette striker, Dustin Poirier forced the champion to the final frame, before succumbing to a D’Arce choke stoppage.

Dustin Poirier confirms he will not fight at UFC 314 in Miami

Confirming before the turn of the year how he plans to make at least one final Octagon fight before likely hanging up his gloves for good, Poirier has now confirmed he will not be fighting at UFC 314 in April — in a return to his training center in ‘The Sunshine State.

Dustin Poirier appears to shut down retirement talk make UFC return The Last Dance

“I’m not fighting in Miami that’s fake news but trust me I have something cooking you’ll know soon,” Dustin Poirier posted on his official X account tonight.

I'm not fighting in Miami that's fake news but trust me I have something cooking you'll know soon pic.twitter.com/cYAghx1GiM

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) January 28, 2025

Stunningly offering to fight on just a day’s notice last week at UFC 311 following the withdrawal of surging contender, Arman Tsarukuyan, Louisianan striker, Poirier boldly endorsed the chance to welcome unbeaten featherweight champion, Ilia Topuria to the lightweight ranks later this annum.

Furthermore, off the back of his pair of victories over current BMF titleholder, Max Holloway, former interim gold holder, Poirier has welcomed the chance to take on the Hawaiian fan-favorite in a trilogy fight in a bid to finally snatch the coveted symbolic belt.

Most recently scoring a win in Miami in April of last year, Poirier ended the streak of French contender, Benoit Saint-Denis with a rallying second round knockout win in a co-main event slot.