Nassourdine Imavov asked if he thinks Israel Adesanya should retire after KO in third consecutive defeat

In the main event of UFC Saudi Arabia, Nassourdine ‘Sniper’ Imavov secured the biggest win of his career to date as he stopped Israel Adesanya in the second round.

Given how ‘The Last Stylebender’ is now 1-4 in his last five fights, including three consecutive defeats in the UFC octagon, a minority of fans have called on Adesanya to retire after his shock KO loss.

Yet already in the past 12 hours or so, we’ve seen countless fighters come out to express their support for Israel Adesanya and encourage him to keep competing, including the surging French ‘Sniper’.

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Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCNassourdine Imavov defends Israel Adesanya over retirement callsWhilst Nassourdine Imavov is incredibly proud of his performance at UFC Saudi Arabia, the-now 16-4 contender was keen to drive home the fact that Adesanya remains a ‘legend’ who’s still one of the best in the world.

When asked at the post-fight press conference whether Adesanya should retire, Imavov came to his defense: “No [he shouldn’t retire], I think he’s in really good shape and I think he should keep fighting, he can be [back to] winning fights for sure.”

“It’s an incredible sensation, he’s a legend and I just beat a legend,” continued Imavov, with UFC CEO Dana White echoing the same opinion on Adesanya as he spoke to the media.

“I thought Izzy looked incredible right up until he got caught, looked good and was picking him apart staying on the outside… His takedown defense looked incredible, chopping that calf kick – he couldn’t have had a better first round and then he got caught [in the second].”

Adesanya actually won the first stanza on all three judges’ scorecards, with White stating that “he couldn’t have fought a better first round than he did,” and that this is simply the nature of top-level MMA fighting.

Former UFC star Darren Till would also come to Adesanya’s defense, arguing in an impassioned rant online that “A man like IZZY should be worshipped among MMA fans and the UFC [as] he’s literally one of the all-time greats.

“You don’t have to like him. No one gives a f*** in fact. But we pay to watch fighting. And if it’s fighting we are talking about. MMA as per say. Izzy was one of the best.”

WHOLESOME: Israel Adesanya keeps it classy during backstage run-in with Nassourdine Imavov

Israel Adesanya declares ‘I’ll be back’ in first post since UFC Saudi KOWhilst there might be calls for Adesanya to retire following last night’s KO loss, ‘The Last Stylebender’ has himself now come out to reveal that he’s not going to hang up the gloves anytime soon.

“F*** – ah the speed, the speed, he’s so good,” Adesanya stated in a video shared to his social media in which he watched the fight back on his mobile phone.

“Fair, fair game,” he said about Goddard’s decision to wave off the contest, “Fair game. F***. I was doing the stripper splits, I was still alive [but] well, that’s how the game goes.

“Rolled the dice, snake eyes. I’ll be back, gone to get some milk,” stated ‘Stylebender’, who has already been called out for a trilogy matchup by Marvin Vettori.

After some well-deserved rest and recovery, who would you like to see Adesanya in there with next?