Israel Adesanya Reflects on 'Thrill and Agony' of Loss to Nassourdine Imavov

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

​

It wasn’t what Israel Adesanya envisioned as he prepared to regain momentum in his Ultimate Fighting Championship career.

Israel Adesanya Reflects on 'Thrill and Agony' of Loss to Nassourdine Imavov

It wasn’t what Israel Adesanya envisioned as he prepared to regain momentum in his Ultimate Fighting Championship career.

www.sherdog.com

The former middleweight champion suffered his third consecutive defeat in the UFC Saudi Arabia headliner, falling to Nassourdine Imavov via second-round technical knockout on Saturday at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While “The Last Stylebender” appeared poised to return to form against a rising contender, it wasn’t meant to be.

“Disappointed,” Adesanya said on the ESPN post-fight show. “I hate disappointing my fans and my team. My team’s still proud of me for the work that I put into this. It’s just the thrill and agony.”


According to Adesanya, only those entrenched in the sport will truly understand what it means to be on wrong side of such a defeat. Those who haven’t competed will only be left to speculate.

“I don’t think it’s for them to know. You have to really be in it to know,” Adesanya said. “It’s only a privilege only few will ever get to this point and understand. To be able to feel something so great, but also feel something so deep and so – ugh. Again, it’s a f—king lovely game, but it’s a stupid game at the same time.”

For a round, things were going well for Adesanya, as he controlled the range and relied on his usual arsenal of strikes to keep Imavov at bay. That changed early in the second stanza, when Imavov found his opening to land a fight-altering right hand. The Frenchman unloaded with a barrage of punches from there to force a stoppage just 30 seconds into the period. It’s the fourth straight win for Imavov, who used the signature triumph to campaign for a 185-pound title shot.

“He must be excited to beat a guy like me,” Adesanya said. “But again, I felt good. Round 1, I was in control of everything. In hindsight, maybe I should have taken some time. I just didn’t want him to rest because I knew he was tired. I didn’t want him to rest. But again, [hindsight is] 20/20.”

Adesanya competed in his 14th UFC main event on Saturday, and the vast majority of those outings have been title bouts. While he no longer resides at the top of the division he once ruled, he remains one of the promotion’s biggest names. However, the Nigerian-born Kiwi is currently uncertain what the future might hold for him.

“I don’t know,” Adesanya said. “I have to chill and then think about things. I’ll relax for a little bit, just help the teammates who have fights coming up and see what I want to do. I was going to do that anyway but now I’m forced to. Shout out to Nassourdine for that.”

Spoiler

@Neck&Neck
@Arqueto @BroRogan @Carl Drogo @lsa
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[Kowboy On Sherdog]

 

[13Seconds]

It's still weird watching Izzy lose. I was never a fan but I also never picked against him. Respect his skills alot.

I also noticed a shift in his personality since the Strickland loss. Like that change you see when a fighter retires. With Bisping, MM, GSP etc, once they retired their personalities changed. The ego dropped and they became straight up wholesome 10 times more likeable. Same thing with Izzy, drinking tea with Whittaker and shit. But he hasn't retired yet. It's a dangerous place to be.

 

[2004 account]

Adesanya technically as a fighter is fine, it's his ego that beats him. He gets emotional inside plus he has been studied and people know to blitz him when changing stances.

But ultimately if he plays it safe like boring adesanya, he still has the ability to coast to decision wins. Those saying he should retire aren't right

 

[AL-Tappo McSnappo]

​

It wasn’t what Israel Adesanya envisioned as he prepared to regain momentum in his Ultimate Fighting Championship career.

Israel Adesanya Reflects on 'Thrill and Agony' of Loss to Nassourdine Imavov

It wasn’t what Israel Adesanya envisioned as he prepared to regain momentum in his Ultimate Fighting Championship career.

www.sherdog.com

The former middleweight champion suffered his third consecutive defeat in the UFC Saudi Arabia headliner, falling to Nassourdine Imavov via second-round technical knockout on Saturday at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While “The Last Stylebender” appeared poised to return to form against a rising contender, it wasn’t meant to be.

“Disappointed,” Adesanya said on the ESPN post-fight show. “I hate disappointing my fans and my team. My team’s still proud of me for the work that I put into this. It’s just the thrill and agony.”


According to Adesanya, only those entrenched in the sport will truly understand what it means to be on wrong side of such a defeat. Those who haven’t competed will only be left to speculate.

“I don’t think it’s for them to know. You have to really be in it to know,” Adesanya said. “It’s only a privilege only few will ever get to this point and understand. To be able to feel something so great, but also feel something so deep and so – ugh. Again, it’s a f—king lovely game, but it’s a stupid game at the same time.”

For a round, things were going well for Adesanya, as he controlled the range and relied on his usual arsenal of strikes to keep Imavov at bay. That changed early in the second stanza, when Imavov found his opening to land a fight-altering right hand. The Frenchman unloaded with a barrage of punches from there to force a stoppage just 30 seconds into the period. It’s the fourth straight win for Imavov, who used the signature triumph to campaign for a 185-pound title shot.

“He must be excited to beat a guy like me,” Adesanya said. “But again, I felt good. Round 1, I was in control of everything. In hindsight, maybe I should have taken some time. I just didn’t want him to rest because I knew he was tired. I didn’t want him to rest. But again, [hindsight is] 20/20.”

Adesanya competed in his 14th UFC main event on Saturday, and the vast majority of those outings have been title bouts. While he no longer resides at the top of the division he once ruled, he remains one of the promotion’s biggest names. However, the Nigerian-born Kiwi is currently uncertain what the future might hold for him.

“I don’t know,” Adesanya said. “I have to chill and then think about things. I’ll relax for a little bit, just help the teammates who have fights coming up and see what I want to do. I was going to do that anyway but now I’m forced to. Shout out to Nassourdine for that.”

Spoiler

@Neck&Neck
@Arqueto @BroRogan @Carl Drogo @lsa
@StonedLemur @Fight Professor @TerrorTimmy @Elvis. @ryun253 @don't ask @C0NCH3TO @MEAN357 @Cooliox @mudrubble @Bobby Boulders @Simple Southerner @svmr_db @Luthien @BoxerMaurits @Neck&Neck @SeattleFightFan @Ares Black @SalvadorAllende @Arm Barbarian @Blanqa Blanqua @Royce's Gi @Cooliox @Krixes @MXZT @wisdom blows @nonoob @Mohawk Banditó @JKS @SuperNerd @2004 account @Mammothman @Bushwhacker B @Siver! @TITS @Cowboy Kurt Angle @Jose Beehive @MEAN357 @NoBiasJustMMA @FlyingDeathKick @Doughie99 @13Seconds @CPH @Kenny Powerth @OldBoy91 @Kryptt @Paynebringer @HI SCOTT NEWMAN @Poirierfan @SenorFranko @MMALOPEZ @Hellowhosthat @Get To Da Choppa @BangBang @Substance Abuse @John makfresshi @Islam Imamate @Wong_Wongster_Irish @TCE @Jackonfire @helax @Iroh

BS answer, he needs tell tell the world especially his fans how hard it is to continue training when you are on a losing streak like he is.

 

[CasualBot]

"Shout out to Nassourdine for that.”

 

[HNIC215]

Life is full of "thrills an agony"

He will be alright... not sure championships are in his future but he's got a few more fights in him for sure.

He looked sharp out there until he got clipped.

Secure the bag with a few more fights, invest that money and retire with a solid life full of combat achievements.

 

[13Seconds]

Adesanya technically as a fighter is fine, it's his ego that beats him. He gets emotional inside plus he has been studied and people know to blitz him when changing stances.

But ultimately if he plays it safe like boring adesanya, he still has the ability to coast to decision wins. Those saying he should retire aren't right

'Boring' Adesanya is terrible to watch though, and he knows it.

 

[Intermission]

“He must be excited to beat a guy like me,” Adesanya said'

Cant resist displaying his self love even at the worst of times.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

 

[Rataria]

"Thrill and Agony" ???

Ha! This foo is into some weird shit

 

[HNIC215]

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

@Neck&Neck @Bobby Boulders @helax

 

[Bobby Boulders]

@Neck&Neck @Bobby Boulders @helax

 

[Intermission]

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

 

[MDoza]

Looks like MM had his childrens tuition bet on this fight.

 

[Arm Barbarian]

It's still weird watching Izzy lose. I was never a fan but I also never picked against him. Respect his skills alot.

I also noticed a shift in his personality since the Strickland loss. Like that change you see when a fighter retires. With Bisping, MM, GSP etc, once they retired their personalities changed. The ego dropped and they became straight up wholesome 10 times more likeable. Same thing with Izzy, drinking tea with Whittaker and shit. But he hasn't retired yet. It's a dangerous place to be.

Pretty similar take for me, though I will admit I started to become more of a fan after he simmered down some of the more arrogant stuff.

I kind of felt bad for him in his last couple of losses, as he had his moments in both fights, but it looks like she and wear and tear has finally caught up with him.

I think Strickland cracked his chin and it hasn't been the same since. His reflexes also are not as sharp as they once were.

 

[Edward Henry Berg]

“He must be excited to beat a guy like me,” Adesanya said'

Cant resist displaying his self love even at the worst of times.

Once a narcissist, always a narcissist.

 

[Bobby Boulders]