Michael Bisping says Israel Adesanya can show he is still elite in Nassourdine Imavov fight
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Published 27/01/2025 at 12:01 GMT
Michael Bisping has said that Israel Adesanya can show he is still good enough to compete at the top of the middleweight division if he is victorious against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night. Adesanya has suffered three defeats in his last four fights. Imavov has a record of 15-4 but is undefeated in his last three. The contest will take place on February 1, live on TNT Sports.
Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa has his arm raised by Israel Adesanya of Nigeria after winning the Middleweight championship fight by submission during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
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Michael Bisping believes Israel Adesanya has the chance to prove he can still compete at the highest level when he takes on Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night.
Adesanya avenged his defeat against Alex Pereira by knocking out the Brazilian at UFC 287, but he has since fallen to back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis.
Adesanya will face Imavov at UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov on February 1 - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Bisping insists that the two-time UFC middleweight champion can prove he still has what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the best in Riyadh.
"Israel Adesanya, the former champion and the second-most accredited middleweight champion in UFC history, has lost three out of his last four fights," Bisping said on TNT Sports' Fight Week.
"However, that one win was a knockout against Alex Pereira. That is the big question: does he still have it at the elite level?
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"He lost to Dricus du Plessis and he lost to Sean Strickland, both champions, and Dricus is still champion.
"This is a step down in competition, this is a chance for Adesanya to prove he is going nowhere.
"He has had a great career, a glistening, glittering career. Maybe he rested on his laurels and took his opponents a bit lightly, but he is back baby, and he is here to make a statement."
Imavov heads into the clash with an MMA record of 15-4 and on a run of three consecutive victories.
He beat Brendan Allen via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis last September.
Nick Peet says that Adesanya needs the win to kickstart his push to become middleweight champion for a third time.
"Has Israel Adesanya still got it left in his locker? To prove that he deserves to still be mixing it at the top of this division?" asked Peet.
"As Mike has just explained, he has lost to both of the guys that are about to challenge for the belt.
"He needs to reaffirm his position as the guy just below them and maybe kick on and have a third spell as UFC champion.
"You would be crazy to doubt him because of what he has done in the past.
"There was a moment in time where stylistically it felt like he was taking a huge leap forward with this sport, but the sport waits for no man."
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