Knockouts are common in the UFC but when it happens to an iconic figure in the sport, one who was seemingly untouchable at one point in his career – it stings a bit sharper. That’s what fans felt when they saw ‘The Last Stylebender’, Israel Adesanya fall to a thundering right hook by Nassourdine Imavov in the second round of the UFC Saudi Arabia main event. And what’s worse? Adesanya could have helped himself before that moment, as he was poked in the eye 30 seconds into round 2. He could have taken time to recover (and recalibrate his gameplan), but instead asked Herb Dean to continue the fight.

Nassourdine Imavov capitalized on the moment, delivering a decisive hook followed by relentless punches, prompting the referee to stop the fight. Adesanya, after the fight, was quick to congratulate Imavov for his impressive victory. Once the untouchable king of the middleweight division, Adesanya has shown the makings of what could be a repeat of an Anderson Silva who lost his spark after getting slept by Weidman (and the leg-break in the rematch). But ‘The Last Stylebender’ seems self-aware, to the point of reflecting on a missed opportunity.

The former middleweight champion took to his YouTube channel to share exactly what went wrong in the fight. He said, “So I knew by the end of round two or round three I was going to catch him. But yeah for me I should have taken time and again I do not make excuses and I don’t take anything away from him. He got me because I should have reset but then I was like, ‘Okay cool, when I did I was at the wrong distance’.” Adesanya’s downfall didn’t happen overnight. After defending his title five times dominantly, cracks began to show. Then came UFC Saudi Arabia—a fight that could have reignited his legacy but instead pushed him further into decline.

Nassourdine Imavov delivered a shocking knockout, leaving Adesanya with three losses in his last four fights. The aura of invincibility that once surrounded him has faded, and for the first time in his career, his future in fighting is in question. Adesanya has always been known for his resilience, but the road ahead is uncertain. Rival Sean Strickland’s coach also seemed upset with the loss and pointed out why the former champion lost the fight.

Eric Nicksick points out what Israel Adesanya did wrong in his last fight

In three of his last four losses, a clear pattern has emerged—Adesanya starts strong, looking sharp and in control, only to be defeated suddenly. It has happened frequently enough that it’s no longer a coincidence but a concerning trend in his career. Adesanya’s fighting style is built on precision counter-striking, relying on his speed, athleticism, and razor-sharp reflexes to outmaneuver opponents. However, this approach demands near-perfection throughout the fight. At the highest levels, even the smallest mistake can be the difference between victory and a sudden, devastating defeat.

Credit to Adesanya, he looked outstanding in the first round, dictating the pace and controlling the fight with ease. However, everything changed in the second round when the eye poke caused him to switch stances. Moments later, Imavov capitalized, landing a sharp right hand that led to Adesanya’s downfall. Sean Strickland‘s coach, Eric Nicksick, highlighted what he believes was the crucial mistake that led to Adesanya’s defeat against Imavov.

While speaking on the Submission Radio show he said, “It’s just unfortunate man, because this is the game, right? He made a big mistake in that fight that cost him. His stance switched forward without really any offense and, you know, Imavov was able to take that space away and reacted brilliantly with that overhand.” 

What do you think was the reason behind Israel Adesanya’s loss? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.