The Israel Adesanya next fight news should arrive in the next few months. Until then, we look at three opponent options for his return and recap his disappointing loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Riyadh.
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Who will Israel Adesanya next fight be against?
The former UFC middleweight king has lost three straight and four of his last five. If he decides to continue to fight, he needs to get a win badly. That is why he is sure to be booked in another matchup that plays to his strengths. This means matchups with ranked middleweights Caio Borralho, and Michel Pereira, or a move up to light heavyweight to face Jamahal Hill makes the most sense next.
- The Natural: Borralho is one of the fastest-rising fighters at 185 pounds. Matching him up with Adesanya would be classic UFC star-building booking. But it might be a worthwhile risk to catch the Brazilian early in his career and score a win over a top-10 fighter.
- Demolidor: If the UFC wants Adesanya in a very winnable but fan-friendly clash, a matchup with Pereira would be interesting. They are very different elite strikers. That collision of styles would be fun to watch.
- Sweet Dreams: At this point in his career, a division change might be best for the Nigerian. Of the possible ranked 205ers, Jamahal Hill would offer a fun matchup where a victory could catapult Adesanya right into the title contention conversation.
Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov recap

Israel Adesanya was the favorite heading into his matchup with rising star Nassourdine Imavov. However, not only was he on the wrong end of an upset in February, he was handed just the second knockout loss of his MMA career.
What Happened:Â From the start, it was apparent that Adesanya did not have a speed advantage over his foe like he has in many other fights. With age continuing to diminish his skills he was not able to easily avoid Imavov’s shots.
By the second round, the native of Russia was able to land a hook that floored the UFC legend and led to a technical knockout loss for Adesanya.
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The Fallout:Â The former middleweight champion has now lost three straight and father time is having a big effect on his skills. Adesanya has hit that moment in his career where he has to weight the risk-reward in continuing to compete passed his prime.
What’s Next? Adesanya will probably fight one more time. However, if he loses again he is likely to call it a career.
What makes Israel Adesanya so popular?

Adesanya truly is a one-of-a-kind combat athlete. He is akin to Muhammad Ali and Roy Jones, Jr. in mixing world-class physical gifts with it-factor charisma. The native of New Zealand is a perfect representation of the era he dominated in and will surely go down as many Gen Z fans’ favorite UFC fighter.
The Avatar of the UFC: Adesanya is a top three pound-for-pound talent because he can beautifully blend both the physical and mental sides of fighting into one dynamic combat package.
- Israel Adesanya Record: 24-5 (16 knockouts)
- During his seven-year run in the UFC, Adesanya beat elite fighters like Derek Brunson, Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori (twice), Robert Whittaker (twice), Alex Pereira, and Yoel Romero.
- In a clash of generations, Adesanya fought his idol, and the man considered the greatest MMA middleweight of all time, Anderson Silva, in 2018. Although the then-43-year-old Silva showed the heart of a lion, his younger counterpart was the better man and won by unanimous decision.
- Before he jumped to MMA, Adesanya was a world-class kickboxer. Amassing a 75-5 record with 48 KOs.
The Stylish Bender: The New Zealand resident has become a sports superstar by unabashedly being himself. A confident, cocky, funny, and creative man that connects with the 18 to 35 age demographic that all sports properties and advertisers want.
- Adesanya has millions of followers on his various social media accounts, including nine million on Instagram.
- The champ also runs popular OnlyFans and YouTube pages. His YouTube channel has millions of subscribers, which helps him earn a solid income from his videos.
- Adesanya made headlines in 2021 when he took part in the “Black Lives Matter” protests in New Zealand. At the protest, he gave a passionate speech and used his fame to help push the popular social movement.
Israel Adesanya’s net worth
Money is often one of the greatest measuring sticks for a fighter’s success. As of 2024, Adesanya’s net worth is estimated to be between $4 and $6 million.