The UFC has announced a pair of middleweight contests for their upcoming return to Saudi Arabia next year.
In Riyadh on February 1, the former two-time middleweight king Israel Adesanya returns to the Octagon for his first non-title fight since 2019.
"The Last Stylebender" was last in action at UFC 305 in August where he challenged Dricus Du Plessis for the 185-pound title.
After suffering the first submission loss of his career, Adesanya will now look to get back in the win column by facing off with one of the few top middleweight contenders that he is yet to compete against.
Nassourdine Imavov has climbed to the #5 ranking spot in the division following three consecutive wins over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier and Brendan Allen.
The Frenchman will now look to secure the biggest win of his career by handing Adesanya his third consecutive loss.
In another dynamite match-up at 185-pounds, the undefeated Shara Magomedov will look to put his elite striking to the test against another absolute sniper on the feet.
"Bullet" has won four in a row since debuting in the UFC last year and making an immediate impact.
His latest performance came at UFC 308 in October where he delivered one of the best knockouts of the year by stopping Armen Petrosyan with a double spinning backfist.
As he looks to go 5-0, he will welcome Michael "Venom" Page to the middleweight division after the knockout artist made the switch over from Bellator earlier this year.
Page has gone 1-1 inside the Octagon with a loss to Ian Machado Garry last time out following a debut win against Kevin Holland in March.
As one of the most unique strikers in the sport, it will now be on Magomedov to solve a puzzle that few have managed to crack without taking the fight to the floor.
