Israel Adesanya says he is interested in fighting Khamzat Chimaev in 2025.
The former two-time UFC middleweight recently fell short in his bid to regain his title when he suffered a fourth-round submission loss to Dricus du Plessis.
'Stylebender' is on a two-fight skid after also being knocked out by Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023.
Now he is booked to meet rising star Nassourdine Imavov in Saudi Arabia on February 1.
Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images
Israel Adesanya eyes future fight with Khamzat Chimaev
Israel Adesanya understands that earning another title shot will take more than a win over Imavov.
Khamzat Chimaev is waiting in the wings after powering through his fight with Robert Whittaker in October.
The 14-0 contender made it look easy when he crushed Whittaker's jaw and won by submission in the first round.
Chimaev's performance was so impressive that many fans called for him to get an immediate title shot.
The forces ultimately decide to book Du Plessis vs Strickland II. The middleweight championship will be on the line when they compete again on February 9 at UFC 312 Sydney, Australia
Adesanya wasn't surprised to see Chimaev overlooked by the UFC. Still, he was hugely impressed by the Russian's victory over Whittaker. So much so that he is now looking forward to throwing with him in the future.
“I was surprised by the way Khamzat ran through Rob, it was crazy,” he said on his YouTube channel.
“That made me want to fight him. I was like, 'Okay, s***! This guy is really good.”
Khamzat Chimaev will face Alex Pereira next?
Earlier this week, UFC fans woke up to a surprising rumor making the rounds regarding Alex Pereira's next title fight.
The light heavyweight king was expected to face Magomed Ankalaev in the new year, but he suggested on social media that he is rejecting Magomed Ankalaev as his next opponent, fueling speculation about him fighting Chimaev instead .
Responding to the story on Instagram, former heavyweight Brendan Shaub reshared an Instagram post with the caption: “No F***** way, does anyone know if this is real? To take. Mine. Money.”
The rumor even reached the ears of Whittaker, who claimed that his latest opponent would beat Pereira if that fight actually happened.
“I saw a rumor that Chimaev might go to Pereira to fight – imagine that… Chimaev [wins] easy – maybe not easy – but Chimaev [wins] But… Unless the heavyweight's power changes his momentum, Chimaev would get the takedown. He is good at what he does and that plays to his strengths.
“But hypothetically, let's say Chimaev slows down and gasses him a little bit, Pereira doesn't, and he can strike in his sleep… He'll kill Chimaev in the stand-up, it won't be like that Usman-Chimaev fight where Usman if he outsmarted him it would be a massacre.”
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