Why Israel Adesanya wants to fight Khamzat Chimaev after facing Nassourdine Imavov

Israel Adesanya, popularly known as the “Nigerian Stylebender,” is set to headline a UFC Fight Night event on February 1st against Nassourdine Imavov. However, Adesanya has hinted at wanting a bigger challenge after this bout.

In a recent video shared on his YouTube channel, Adesanya praised Khamzat Chimaev’s skills and suggested that a fight with him could happen soon. This comes after Chimaev’s dominant win over former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.

Currently, Chimaev does not have a confirmed opponent, as the UFC has scheduled a rematch between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland for the main event of UFC 312. This opens the possibility of Adesanya and Chimaev clashing to determine the No. 1 contender in the middleweight division.

Adesanya, who lost back-to-back title fights against Sean Strickland and Du Plessis in 2024, is looking to rebuild his career and reclaim his place at the top of the division. His fight against Imavov is a crucial step in that journey.

The UFC has not officially commented on Adesanya’s interest in fighting Chimaev. However, a matchup between the two could bring excitement to the middleweight division in 2025, especially with rising contenders like Imavov joining the competition.

What Adesanya does after his fight with Imavov remains uncertain, but fans are eager to see how his journey unfolds.