Former UFC champion Israel Adesanya has a big name in mind for a potential callout after the fight when he is winning in Riyad this weekend.
Israël Adesanya returns this Saturday to the Octagon against Nassourdine Imavov in his first non-title fight since UFC 234. He wants to break the first loss of his MMA career after back-to-back title of Landen Strickland and Dricus du Plessisis.
Adesanya is located in a unique location in the UFC Middleweight title photo. For the first time in a long time he is on the outside and looks inside when it comes to the title mix of the middleweight, while he seems to work on his back to another potential on the belt.
In the meantime, Adesanya's willingness to face top candidates such as Imavov shows his seriousness to return to the title. Strickland and Du Plessis will probably be in a rematch on UFC 312 with Khamzat Chimaev next month for the winner.
Assuming this is the case, Adesanya does not mind being confronted with another competition if he beats in Riyad Imavov this weekend. His target? A Brazilian Juggernaut who quickly approaches the title.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Israel Adesanya calls on the rising Brazilian competition for the next fight with a victory at UFC Riyadh
In a recent performance on the Ariel Helwani show, Adesanya Caio Borralho proclaimed a fight after UFC Riyadh.
“Good style, I love his style,” said Adesanya. “Our interactions have been respectful and warm. And they are just handy hands, bro. You are good, I'm good, let's throw hands and see what's going on. No bad blood or nothing, I just want to test myself for these young boys such as Nassourdine Imavov.
“I know the answer, but I want to prove it for myself and find out. So we're going to discover it. “
Borralho defeated Adesanya's UFC 276 rival, Jared Cannonier, in his first UFC head event last August with a unanimous decision. He is unbeaten in the UFC and generally has a 16-Fight-winning series.
Adesanya and Borralho would be briefly rumors to collide at UFC 312 in Sydney, but the matchmakers turned to book the fight. A victory at UFC Riyad would set up Adesanya for a fight with a top candidate such as Borralho or other potential options.
Israel Adesanya set for first non-title fight since UFC 234
The return of Adesanya comes after a loss of submission to Du Plessis on UFC 305 last year. Before the defeat against Du Plessis, Adesanya suffered a wonderful loss for Strickland to abruptly end his second title stint on UFC 293.
Adesanya would be by far the most difficult test of Borralho's career, but would be an important step in his pursuit of title conflicts. Borralho also defeated the will of Abus Magomedov and Paul Craig during his UFC official period.
First thing is the first for Adesanya while he seems to break his first MMA skid, go back in the win column and return to the title mix. But a victory this weekend could point him in the direction of confronted with Borralho or another top middleweight while he may return to the throne.
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