Dana White Announces UFC Saudi Arabia Fights for Israel Adesanya & Michael Page

Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov and Michael 'Venom' Page vs. Shara Magomedov have been added to UFC Saudi Arabia.

Christopher De Santiago | 2 Hours Ago

Jasmin Frank-Imagn Images

Contender Izzy is back.

For the first time in six years, Israel Adesanya finds himself in a non-title fight in the middleweight division after back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland and current champ Dricus Du Plessis. Adesanya's return to the Octagon will come sooner rather than later, starting the year strong with a pivotal matchup.

Dana White Announces UFC Saudi Arabia Fights for Israel Adesanya & Michael Page

Former UFC Champion Israel Adesanya. / Rich Storry-Imagn Images

On Saturday, UFC CEO Dana White announced Adesanya would be taking on top contender, France's own Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of a UFC Fight Night on Feb. 1, set to go down from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It's a massive step up in competition for Imavov, but it's one he needs to earn first title shot after three-straight wins over ranked opponents.

Adesanya vs Imavov and Magomedov vs Page is LIVE February 1st from Riyadh! #UFCRiyadh #RiyadhSeason @RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/1NHjEbtax1
— danawhite (@danawhite) December 14, 2024

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Striker vs. striker seems to be the theme for the co-main event as well, as Michael "Venom" Page will be making his middleweight debut against rising star Shara "Bullet" Magomedov. The undefeated Magomedov turned in the highlight of his career thus far with a double spinning backfist KO the last time fans saw him at UFC 308.

Shara Bullet KOs Armen Petrosyan on a DOUBLE BACKFIST 😱🤯

UNREAL. pic.twitter.com/UyuMJZNyoj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 26, 2024

Two fights into his UFC career, former Bellator mainstay Page is already considered one of the best strikers to have entered the welterweight division, now taking his talents up to 185lbs where he should have the speed advantage over just about everybody.