UFC Struggle Evening 250 will mark the primary time that Israel Adesanya competes in a non-title combat in nearly six years.
Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) takes on Nassourdine Imavov (15-4 MMA, 7-2 UFC) in Saturday’s important occasion (ESPN+) at ANB Area in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The previous UFC middleweight champion has been within the title image since 2019 however is at the moment in unfamiliar territory having misplaced back-to-back title fights in opposition to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.
“The Final Stylebender” insists that his motivation hasn’t faltered.
“Simply because there’s not a belt on the road, I don’t wish to diminish this combat prefer it’s not essential,” Adesanya stated throughout Wednesday’s media day. “That is nonetheless an essential combat for me. Once more, I’m saying I’m doing this for myself. I’m sort of being egocentric.
“Like, I combat for myself, I combat for my group, my household, and my actual followers, however this one I’m placing myself first. I’m attempting to do that one for myself, so it’s actually essential to me.”
Adesanya will attempt to put a halt to a younger, rising contender in Imavov.
“From what I see up to now, there’s nothing that he brings that I haven’t seen earlier than,” Adesanya stated of Imavov. “I feel his greatest attribute is his pace. His pace, his counters, however I’ve seen that earlier than. Once more, it’s as much as him to indicate me one thing I haven’t seen earlier than.”
The previous two-time UFC middleweight champion refuses to look previous Imavov and map out future plans however is assured that his legacy is already set in stone whatever the final result.
“I stated ‘gatekeeper’ as a joke early on. Yeah, I really feel just like the outdated canine after which there’s the younger guys developing attempting to show themselves,” Adesanya stated. “So, it’s my job to ship them again down and allow them to know I’m nonetheless right here.
“God forbid, if I lose my subsequent 10 fights, it wouldn’t have an effect on my legacy. So, I put strain on myself, don’t get me flawed. When it’s time, I’ll put strain on myself. If he doesn’t really feel the strain, good for him, however he’ll discover out.”
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