Dana White reveals stacked UFC card with Israel Adesanya and one-eyed Russian star
The UFC Riyadh card has been announced with Israel Adesanya and one-eyed Shara Magomedov set to feature.
🅘Dana White’s promotion returns to Saudi Arabia on February 1 at the ANB Arena.
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💟Adesanya will face off against Nassourdine Imavov in the main event, looking for his career’s second wind following two consecutive losses.
In September 2023 he lost his middleweight champion belt to Sean Strickland via unanimous decision.
꧟The Stylebender took nearly a year off before his return against Dricus Du Plessis in another title bout, but was submitted in round four.
🦂Imavov is currently on a three-fight winning streak against ranked opponents and will look to pressure Adesanya in the stand-up.
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ꦏIt will be Adesanya’s first non-title fight since he defeated legend Anderson Silva in 2019
ღThe co-main event will see the one-eyed Magomedov take on Michael Page.
𝓀Shara the pirate went viral last month following his double spinning backfist knockout against Armen Petrosyan.
🌜The Russian may be without a right eye but the undefeated fighter will be an ultimate test for Page.
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'Venom' joined the UFC𓃲 in 2023 after ten years fighting in Bellator, and is 1-1 in the promotion following a unanimous decision loss to Ian Garry and unanimous win against Kevin Holland.
ꦡThis will be an entertaining spectacle as Magomedov has won performance bonuses in his last three fights and will not be afraid to put it all on the line.
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💦The same goes for Page who is well known for his Poke ball celebration following his flying knee knockout of Evangelista Santos in 2016.
That strike fractured the skull of his opponent.
Khamzat Chimaev💦 versus Robert Whittaker headlined the UFC’s first trip to Saudi Arabia in June.
🍰Speaking of the experience White said: “Yeah, it was amazing. Obviously, our first time in the kingdom and my first time here. It was a great experience. We’re looking forward to the next one."
White has worked closely with Saudi Arabia’s chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Al-Sheikh, who is also responsible for putting on major boxing events such as Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk in May.
🍌“First of all, I thank Dana, I am shocked,” said Al-Sheikh after UFC 308.
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༺“I know the UFC has a lot of fans, but you see, this is changing my mind now.
🧸“12,000 fans till 1am… Now I am asking Dana, for the next card, we want 30,000.”
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