Former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya suffered his third loss in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia this past weekend (Sat., Feb. 1, 2025) when Nassourdine Imavov stopped him with punches in the second round from inside anb Arena in Riyadh (watch highlights).
Among the fighters who were shocked at “The Last Stylebenders” loss was No. 6 ranked Caio Borralho, who is ever so close to a Middleweight No. 1 contender fight himself (and is in Sydney, Australia, for a possible backup spot for the UFC 312 main event).
“I thought Israel was going to pick him apart for 3 or 4 rounds and then maybe lose one round or something like that, but I thought he would be more on point not to get hit and all that,” Borralho told Submission Radio. “But I think he was good when he was hitting [Imavov], but wasn’t that good when he gets hit. I think he might be a little bit off on the fight time. You know, sparring time and all that. He’s not in his prime for sure.”
“It’s hard to see the guy losing that way,” Borralho added. I think he did the wrong choice when he switched the stance too close to him. You know, because when you switch the stance, you need to be a little bit far away from the guy so you can adjust, and the guy can adjust just too. He switched his stance so close to Imavov and got clipped.”
With Adesanya losing three fights in a row and being finished in two of them, the former champion’s future seems uncertain even though Izzy teased he would be back after his loss.
Borralho believes he will fight again, but he’s done as a title challenger.
“I think he might fight again, but I don’t think he can have a run to the title again,” Borralho said. “I don’t think he deserves the title even though he’s one of the goats and all that. But I think the division is like renewing, you know, with new fighters and all the level of fighters…I think the time is passing [for him]. You know, I think now MMA has people that are complete. They are well-rounded. And I think he misses a little bit on that. And maybe he cannot find space again in the MMA competition like he used to.”
“So yeah, I don’t think he will have a run again for the title, but I think he can do some fights. I think he can do big fights. He’s still a big name, one of the best to ever do it. So I think he can keep getting money, you know. But I don’t think he can be champion again,” Borralho concluded.
For complete UFC Saudi Arabia results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
This news first appeared on MMA Mania. Read the original article.
