Israel Adesanya returns against Nassourdine Imavov in the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Uncrowned has UFC Saudi Arabia live results, highlights and play-by-play for the Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov fight card on Saturday at Anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the main event, former two-time UFC champion title Adesanya faces off against rising contender Imavov in a five-round middleweight showdown.
Adesanya (24-4) fights in a non-title bout for the first time since 2019, snapping a string of 12 consecutive championship bouts that stretched across his two different reigns. “The Last Stylebender” is already one of the most decorated middleweights to ever compete, but after hitting the first losing streak of his MMA career, it’s now or never for the 35-year-old if he wants to make a third run at gold.
“Without the belt being on the line, there’s an element of freedom that I haven’t felt in a while,” Adesanya told Uncrowned ahead of UFC Saudi Arabia. “I’m anticipating what [that freedom] is going to feel like in the Octagon.”
Standing across from the former champ is Imavov (15-4, 1 NC), who steps into the biggest spotlight of his career with a chance to propel himself straight into title contention.
A 29-year-old native of Dagestan who relocated to France in his youth, Imavov carved out a path to Saturday’s contender bout with a perfect 2024 campaign that featured a trio of consecutive victories over Roman Dolidze, Jared Cannonier and Brendan Allen. In total, Imavov has won seven of his 10 UFC appearances and has long been considered a dark horse for the title at 185 pounds.
Knockout artists Michael Page and Shara Magomedov collide in the middleweight co-headliner.
UFC Saudi Arabia starts at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN+, with a main card that kicks off at 12 p.m. ET.
Follow along all Saturday as Uncrowned brings you live results and highlights below, as well as a live blog of the entire card culminating with Adesanya vs. Imavov.
Arguably Canada’s finest right now, Jasudavicius has become a potential title threat at flyweight.
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 10:41 AM EST
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva – Round 3
Jasudavicius hits to the body with a right straight. Bueno Silva attacks in aggressively, just winging hooks in tight. Jasudavicius wears them well, keeping her distance with front kicks to the body. They trade elbows in close. Both land big left hooks. Jasudavicius walks backward, taking a body kick but delivering back. Then a big well-time takedown into half-guard for Jasudavicius. Bueno Silva sneakily attacked with a shoulder lock that looked uncomfortable but wasn’t a real submission threat. Jasudavicius transitions to mount, locking on an arm-triangle choke. She gives it up, and Bueno Silva gives up her back. Jasudavicius just keeps punching whether to the face or body of her opponent. This has been a much more dominant round. Overall, an impressive performance against a former title challenger.
10-9 Jasudavicius (30-27 Jasudavicius)
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 10:35 AM EST
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva – Round 2
Bueno Silva is showing some nasty swelling above her left eye. She catches a kick early but can’t capitalize on anything with it. They trade punches. Another rip to the body leads Jasudavicius into a near-guillotine. A nice right-hand touches Jasudavicius’ chin. Bueno Silva ties up the clinch briefly to land a hard knee to the body. She rips with a hook to the body again. Jabs from Bueno Silva start connecting. Jasudavicius teases a takedown and turns it into a front kick. Bueno Silva presses in and lands a nice elbow. They clinch, and Jasudavicius lands a knee and elbow on the exit. Bueno Silva stabs with a front kick that almost gets countered to a takedown. Jasudavicius finds one right after anyway, landing them in half-guard. Bueno Silva started complaining to the referee about something. Jasudavicius lands punches while defending a leglock attempt. Jasudavicius just kind of stands to get out of it and pepper shots until the horn. Relatively close, but a strong ending for the Canadian.
10-9 Jasudavicius (20-18 Jasudavicius)
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 10:29 AM EST
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva – Round 1
Bueno Silva takes the center as soon as the fight starts. They trade low kicks. Bueno Silva stabs with a kick to the body. Jasudavicius starts attacking up high, landing right hands. Jasudavicius teases a takedown but backs away after nearly getting caught in a Thai clinch. Bueno Silva attacks into a brief clinch. Some jabs start getting through from Jasudavicius as he fights off the back foot. A stinging right straight lands for Bueno Silva. Bueno Silva rips to the body, forcing a Jasudavicius takedown. Bueno Silva jumps on the neck for a guillotine! Jasudavicius might be in trouble. Nope. Some slow hand-fighting leads to the let-go, and Jasudavicius works from guard, seeking punches. Jasudavicius passes out and gets right into a crucifix. That was way too easy. 1:30 left to work, and elbows start coming. Bueno Silva nicely swivels the hips out and escapes. Jasudavicius maintains atop her, and they wind up in half guard with Bueno Silva on the bottom. Bueno Silva nearly headlock sweeps Jasudavicius into an armbar. Instead, she almost gets Jasudavicius in a leg lock, but the round’s time expires.
10-9 Jasudavicius
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 10:11 AM EST
Highlights!
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 10:10 AM EST
First finish of the night!
Bogdan Grad def. Lucas Alexander via second-round TKO (punches) at 4:22
A nice uptick in action from the featherweights, and a promotional debut win for Grad.
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 10:08 AM EST
Bogan Grad vs. Lucas Alexander – Round 2
Grad starts the round with another takedown attempt but fails. Some massive leg kicks stagger Grad as he starts eating punches. Grad sneaks an elbow in during an exchange and takes another leg kick. Solid right hand from Grad over the top. Grad takes a front kick to the body but catches, lading a punch and getting Alexander to the ground. He takes control from the top, working from mount to the back and just scrambling on top of Alexander. Grad starts dropping bombs as they transition to half-guard. Grad moves to mount and a nasty elbow lands. Alexander starts taking an onslaught of elbows and punches, seemingly hopeless as a minute remains in the round. He’s covering up as the elbows rain down, and the referee steps in! Nice rally to get the TKO win for Grad.
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 10:02 AM EST
Bogan Grad vs. Lucas Alexander – Round 1
Grad presses the action immediately, taking a trio of leg kicks before shooting in on a takedown. The shot fails, but he clinches up to get reversed against the cage. They move away from the cage and break. A big flying knee from Alexander nearly lands. A nice overhand right and inside left catch Alexander. Grad gets ahold of Alexander with a body lock from behind. There was a pretty blatant fence grab from Alexander as they moved from the cage. Grad pulled the leg for a single, circling around Alexander before falling and giving up position. Alexander starts to work from the top position until Grad bursts up to hit a brief takedown, falling back to his back. Alexander now does the fun, little kick the legs to a downed opponent thing. Grad stands, bursting into another takedown attempt against the cage. Alexander is on the defensive, thumping at the side of Grad’s head. The round ends with Grad in pursuit of the leg.
Well that fight certainly happened. I think? Anyway, moving on…
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 9:43 AM EST
Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues – Round 3
Pogues starts the round with a big right hand before a triple jab as they exchange. A head kick from Pogues comes out of nowhere. How Abdelwahab hasn’t attempted a single takedown since his initial success is beyond me. Pogues’ jab connects again. Abdelwahab attempts to launch in with a right hand that grazes Pogues. Pogues lands one in return as they circle around the cage. A nice left hook lands for Pogues. Abdelwahab lands a nice counter and starts yelling at Pogues — as if he’s been doing something the whole fight. That’s how it ends.
10-9 Pogues (30-27 Pogues)
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 9:37 AM EST
Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues – Round 2
Abdelwahab starts the action by going back to the leg, getting Pogues off balance. Pogues cracks Abdelwahab with a big overhand right. The double jab keeps finding its home from Pogues. That’s been his best weapon so far, as he starts stance switching. Abdelwahab can’t seem to find a strike he’s comfortable throwing. He launches a right hand that grazes Pogues and leaves it as a single strike. No combinations from either man. Pogues keeps chipping away at the leg even if they aren’t landing hard. Some big jabs follow for Pogues. Abdelwahab lands a hard leg kick then takes one in return. A left hook gets through for Pogues before a right straight at the end of the round. Abdelwahab needs to start doing almost anything.
10-9 Pogues. (20-18 Pogues.)
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 9:31 AM EST
Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues – Round 1
Low kicks land for each early. Nice jab from Abdelwahab stings Pogues before a right hand. Abdelwahab initiates over-under clinch and trips Pogues to the ground. Abdelwahab starts peppering punches into Pogues while controlling him on all fours. Pogues stands, and they break apart. Abdelwahab’s right hand gets through again. A hard leg kick lands for Abdelwahab. Pogues returns fire, landing a right straight behind it followed by another outside leg kick. Pogues lands a nice jab and right straight in succession. Abdelwahab gets one back in a brief exchange. A double jab connects for Pogues. Pretty close round, but Pogues took over after the takedown.
10-9 Pogues.
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 9:26 AM EST
This is going to be FUN!
Sat, February 1, 2025 at 9:24 AM EST
Heavyweights up first
Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues is our opening bout the day. Egypt’s Abdelwahab makes his second UFC appearance after being sidelined since July 2022 due to a two-year USADA suspension stemming from his UFC debut against Don’Tale Mayes.
Happy Uncrowned Day to all who celebrate! We have a massive day of combat sports chaos ahead of us, kicking off shortly here with the opening prelims of UFC Saudi Arabia.
Keep it locked to Uncrowned all morning as we bring you live play-by-play from the first bell to the last!
