The former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is set to return to the Octagon on February 1 in Saudi Arabia.
His main event bout with Nassourdine Imavov will mark the first time that "The Last Stylebender" competed on a Fight Night card since his win over Brad Tavares back in 2018.
In a recent interview on his YouTube channel, FREESTYLEBENDER, Adesanya spoke about his motivation to stick around following back-to-back losses:
"Why am I still fighting? Cuz I can and I'm really, really, really good at it. I almost forgot how great I was but then recently I just realized like f***... So for me, I'm just like man, f*** I'm good at this s***. I forget because reasons but yeah, it's good to remind yourself. I keep saying y'all must have forgot. S***, I forgot."
This return is also the first time that Adesanya has competed in a non-title fight since his interim title win against Kelvin Gastelum in April of 2019.
As he returns to the role of contender, the City Kickboxing fighter spoke about why Imavov was the right opponent.
"That was the only name that got offered by Caio Borralho, he was looking for a fight as well and yeah if they offered him, it would have been like yeah sweet but then he responded or posted when I announced the fight and I was like 'Bro, I already told you, when it's you and me, it'll be for the belt. It'll be for the throne.' So I respect a guy who just wants to be strictly business. It's like I understand, what do I call it? I call it Goku spirit."
Some may think that this fight will provide a completely different kind of motivation compared to Adesanya's recent fights.
He's no longer fighting for a UFC title and Imavov, unlike his recent opponents, is a competitor that he has no bad blood with.
However, Adesanya looks at this fight as just another opportunity to continue his evolution as a mixed martial artist by facing another top opponent who has earned his stripes in the UFC.
"It's not about him, it's about me. It's not about him even though he's the guy I'm fighting. It's about me, it's about improving, writing this chapter.
"There's nothing to say. I don't know the guy, I like his style, I like his game, I respect what he's done so far. I'm sure he has his own story but yeah, there's no beef."
Watch the full interview below:
