Israel Adesanya has long been accustomed to the view from the top. But what happens when a main eventer like Izzy takes a tumble from the summit? Well, he takes a fresh approach which is exactly the case. For the first time in nearly six years, Adesanya is starting from scratch, stepping into the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 250 to face the #5 ranked 185fer Nassourdine Imavov.

Adesanya is no stranger to adversity, but his back-to-back losses—including a shocking submission defeat to current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis—have put his career under intense scrutiny. Despite the setbacks, Izzy had options for his next opponent. And it seems that Nassourdine Imavov wasn’t the only name on the table. Adesanya could have faced the surging Caio Borralho, whose performances have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike. However, Adesanya’s decision to face Imavov instead of Borralho sparked fan interest, with some accusing him of avoiding the Brazilian phenom. Borralho himself didn’t hold back, addressing the situation directly and fueling the narrative.

Caio Borralho gives a piece of his mind on a bout against Adesanya

Following Caio Borralho’s impressive victory over former title contender Jared Cannonier, the Brazilian wasted no time calling out Israel Adesanya. Riding the momentum of a seven-fight winning streak, Borralho believed a matchup with the former two-time middleweight champion was inevitable. Rumors swirled that UFC CEO Dana White had given Adesanya a choice between facing Borralho or Nassourdine Imavov.

Ultimately, Adesanya opted for Imavov, leaving Borralho visibly disappointed. The surging contender admitted that missing out on a fight with Adesanya stung, but he revealed that the two had spoken privately, with Adesanya promising a potential title clash in 2025. For now, Borralho seems to have come to terms with the situation and shared his thoughts during an interview with Submission Radio.

“I was looking for this fight, you know? I think it was the fight to make after my last performance and Imavov’s last performance,” Borralho said. “I’m on a seven-fight winning streak, you know? Beat the biggest one in the division right now after Dricus, so I don’t know why it didn’t happen. But I think that Adesanya is big enough to make choices, you know? And I think if they gave him two choices, you know…”

Despite missing out on the fight, Borralho did not hold any grudges against Adesanya. In fact, he acknowledged that Izzy made a smart choice by selecting Nassourdine Imavov as his next opponent. Interestingly, Adesanya later revealed that Imavov was the only name offered to him for UFC Fight Night 250. ‘The Last Stylebender’ known for his love of anime, even complimented Borralho’s fighting mentality, likening it to the indomitable “Goku spirit” from cult classic anime Dragon Ball Z.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Adesanya shared his respect for Borralho’s approach, “I respect a guy who just wants to be strictly business,” Adesanya said. “It’s like, I understand that. What do I call it? Goku spirit. It’s like, ‘Oh, you fight? How good are you? I bet. Let’s see.’ Yeah, I respect that. But, the Imavov fight came about and now we’re here.”

With the matchup now set, Borralho has shifted his focus to the fight at hand and weighed in on who he thinks will emerge victorious.

Caio Borralho bets on Israel Adesanya to prevail against Imavov

Caio Borralho believes that Nassourdine Imavov was the perfect opponent for Israel Adesanya’s comeback. In his view, this matchup is designed for Adesanya to reassert his dominance. Borralho anticipates a grueling five-round battle but doubts Imavov’s ability to keep pace with Adesanya’s speed and conditioning.

“I think Imavov is a better fight for him, and I think Izzy is the favorite in this fight,” Borralho shared. “Imavov, I think he’s good and all that, but I don’t think he has the cardio for five rounds.” Siding with the odds, the Brazilian contender expects Adesanya to prevail in the main event.

Meanwhile, Adesanya is leaving no stone unturned as he prepares for this high-stakes fight in Saudi Arabia. Bold changes in his training camp are evident, with footage of intense workouts and sparring sessions surfacing online. His coach, Eugene Bareman, has taken a fresh approach, hinting at a completely revamped strategy for the former champion. While Bareman has kept specific details under wraps, his cryptic comments about “flipping things on its head” have sparked speculation.

Could Adesanya channel his inner “Avatar” state and unveil a new level of skill in the Octagon? Once the undisputed king of the middleweight division, he now faces the challenge of proving his greatness against the dangerous #5-ranked Imavov. Share your thoughts below—how do you see this pivotal fight playing out?