Israel Adesanya Optimistic About Khamzat Chimaev Getting Dethroned by Nassourdine Imavov

Former 2-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya shares a prediction for Nassourdine Imavov potentially fighting Khamzat Chimaev.

Israel Adesanya Optimistic About Khamzat Chimaev Getting Dethroned by Nassourdine Imavov

Israel Adesanya picks Nassourdine Imavov to give trouble to Khamzat Chimaev (via X)

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This past weekend at the Accor Arena in Paris, hometown hero Nassourdine Imavov made a statement by defeating Caio Borralho in a thrilling main event that kept fans engaged throughout. The French underdog delivered an outstanding performance, making the Paris crowd erupt with cheers as he secured a well-deserved unanimous decision, getting 50-45, 49-46 x 2 from the judges.

Following the impressive win, Imavov immediately called out newly crowned champion Khamzat Chimaev, demanding his long-awaited middleweight title opportunity. The Frenchman extended his impressive winning streak to five fights, defeating elite opponents including Israel Adesanya, Jared Cannonier, and several others.

‘The Sniper’ has displayed exceptional striking and grappling, proving himself a complete, dangerous fighter capable of challenging anyone in the highly competitive middleweight division. And the former 185lbs kingpin and his UFC Saudi Arabia opponent Adesanya recently reviewed the bout on his YouTube channel, offering his honest opinion on Imavov’s chances in a potential high-stakes clash against the Chechen juggernaut.

I’m not gonna cancel out Imavov now, because of his takedown defense. If he can take away the wrestling from Khamzat, he’ll give him problems. That’s all you have to do. Khamzat can strike, but I see what I see. His wrestling is his main weapon, and he commits a lot to the wrestling. He gets the (expletive) grip, he takes people down, and keeps them down.

Israel Adesanya via YouTube 

Izzy then added that if the Frenchman can counter Chimaev’s grappling, he has a chance to make history and win the 185lbs belt.

If Nassourdine can get past that, he’ll give Khamzat problems. Right now, Khamzat is on point, and he’s got the momentum behind him. So has Imavov. Who will win? We’ll see.

Israel Adesanya via YouTube

Before the UFC Paris event, Adesanya predicted Borralho would win, but later gave Imavov full credit after the surprising result. When facing the French contender himself, Adesanya was outclassed and ultimately suffered a second-round TKO defeat. Imavov’s performance at UFC Paris impressed many, including former pound-for-pound number one Islam Makhachev, who praised the display.

Moreover, Chimaev watched the fight live and welcomed Imavov as a legitimate new title contender through an appreciative post on X. Although the middleweight division is crowded with challengers, the Frenchman gained a significant lead in the title race with this victory.

Nassourdine Imavov has no bad blood with Khamzat Chimaev 

Khamzat Chimaev dominated Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319, using relentless wrestling pressure and securing the middleweight championship in spectacular fashion. He achieved over twenty-one minutes of control time, showcasing unmatched grappling dominance against DDP, who was undefeated inside the Octagon.

Nassourdine Imavov aims to fight Khamzat Chimaev next
Nassourdine Imavov aims to fight Khamzat Chimaev next (via X)

Du Plessis looked like an amateur throughout the bout, with experts noting the shocking and incredibly wide skill gap between them. Among the division’s top contenders, only Nassourdine Imavov possesses defensive skills potentially capable of slowing Chimaev’s wrestling and creating opportunities.

Despite the growing championship drama, the French contender maintains mutual respect with Chimaev, having no personal issues or lingering rivalry whatsoever. Unlike the usual aggressive tone common in modern callouts, Imavov approached the situation calmly, choosing professionalism over unnecessary trash talk entirely.

Congratulations for the belt. I don’t wanna call him out, I wanna call out the belt. If he has the belt, of course we are going to fight for the belt. My goal is the belt, not Khamzat.

Nassourdine Imavov via FULL SEND PODCAST

Chimaev has repeatedly stated he is willing to face anyone the UFC offers, provided the financial compensation is considered suitable. The undefeated middleweight star has also hinted at making an immediate return later this year, though nothing appears certain yet.

If matched against Chimaev, Nassourdine Imavov would undoubtedly enter as the underdog, though he has embraced doubt throughout his career. With multiple middleweight bouts carrying potential title implications approaching soon, the division continues delivering entertainment for passionate UFC fans. 

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