Israel Adesanya successfully made weight for his first non-title fight in six years.
The two-time middleweight champion still hit championship weight at Friday’s official weigh-ins for UFC Saudi Arabia, which takes place early Saturday morning (eastern time) at anb Arena in Riyadh. Adesanya registered at 185 pounds as did main event opponent Nassourdine Imavov, with neither man needing the one-pound allowance for a non-title bout.
This is a pivotal bout for both men as Adesanya—currently No. 4 at middleweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings—looks to break out of a 1-3 slump, while also halting the momentum of Imavov (No. 7), a winner of three straight.
Co-main event middleweights Shara Magomedov and Michael Page also successfully made weight, at 185 pounds and 185.5 pounds, respectively.
All 22 fighters competing Saturday were on the mark, with the exception of preliminary fighter Lucas Alexander. The Brazilian featherweight came in at 148.5 pounds, 2.5 pounds over the limit. This is the second straight time Alexander has failed to make weight as he came in at 148 pounds for a fight with Jeka Saragih in November 2023.
Alexander’s bout with Bogdan Grad will proceed as a catchweight with Alexander forfeiting 30 percent of his purse as penalty.
Main Card (ESPN+, 12 p.m. ET)
Israel Adesanya (185) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (185)
Shara Magomedov (185) vs. Michael Page (185.5)
Sergei Pavlovich (249) vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik (252)
Said Nurmagomedov (135.5) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (135)
Fares Ziam (156) vs. Mike Davis (155.5)
Preliminaries (ESPN+, 9. a.m. ET)
Muhammad Naimov (145.5) vs. Kaan Ofli (145)
Shamil Gaziev (260) vs. Thomas Petersen (263)
Terrance McKinney (156) vs. Damir Hadzovic (155.5)
Jasmine Jasudavicius (125) vs. Mayra Bueno Silva (126)
Bogdan Grad (145.5) vs. Lucas Alexander (148.5)*
Hamdy Abdelwahab (260) vs. Jamal Pogues (264)
*Alexander missed weight. His bout with Bogdan Grad proceeds at a catchweight with Alexander forfeiting 30 percent of his purse as penalty
