RIYADH — French fighter Nassourdine Imavov, ranked fourth in the world, secured a stunning victory over New Zealand's Israel Adesanya with a knockout just 30 seconds into the second round in the highly anticipated main event of the UFC fight night, part of Riyadh Season. The event, held at ANB Arena on Saturday, was attended by Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA). The fight began with an intense exchange of strikes between Adesanya and Imavov, with the latter holding a slight advantage in the opening round. As the second round started, Imavov launched a relentless offensive, landing a series of powerful punches that forced Adesanya into submission, sealing his emphatic victory. Earlier in the co-main event, British fighter Michael "Venom" Page showcased his speed and technical prowess to defeat Russian Sharabutdin Magomedov by unanimous decision. Page's tactical movement and precise striking controlled the fight over three rounds, handing Magomedov the first loss of his career. The preliminary fights (Under Card) delivered high-intensity action, with Egyptian fighter Hamdy Abdelwahab overcoming American Jamal Pogues in a hard-fought battle. Abdelwahab displayed exceptional physical strength and defensive resilience, securing victory in a closely contested bout. Austrian fighter Bogdan Grad claimed a decisive win over Brazilian Lucas Alexander with a technical knockout (TKO) at 4:22 in the second round, demonstrating his superior offensive control and striking power. In the women's division, Canada's Jasmine Jasudavicius dominated Brazil's Mayra Bueno Silva to earn a unanimous decision victory. Jasudavicius controlled the fight across all three rounds with a strategic and disciplined performance. American Terrance McKinney delivered a spectacular first-round victory, defeating Denmark's Damir Hadzovic by TKO at 2:01. McKinney overwhelmed his opponent with a flurry of strikes, forcing the referee to stop the fight. Fighter Shamil Gaziev electrified the crowd with a quick knockout win over American Thomas Petersen at 3:12 in the first round, reinforcing his status as a rising star in the sport. In another dominant performance, Tajikistan's Muhammad Naimov outclassed Australian Khan Ofli, securing a unanimous decision victory. Naimov showcased superior control and effective striking, earning a well-deserved win. The main card opened with a competitive fight in which Brazilian Vinicius "Lok Dog" Oliveira secured a hard-fought victory over Dagestan's Said Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision. Oliveira maintained control throughout the three rounds, executing a well-planned strategy despite Nurmagomedov's attempts at a comeback. In a high-stakes lightweight bout, French fighter Fares Ziam proved his superiority against American Mike Davis, winning by unanimous decision. Ziam delivered a well-rounded performance, demonstrating strong offensive and defensive skills to establish his presence in the lightweight division. Russian heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich capped off an action-packed night with a dominant victory over Syrian-Jamaican Jairzinho "Bigi Boy" Rozenstruik by unanimous decision. Pavlovich controlled the bout with powerful striking and tactical precision, securing a well-earned win after three intense rounds.
