The UFC makes its return to Saudi Arabia with Fight Night 250 on Saturday night at ANB Arena in Riyadh, featuring a highly anticipated middleweight showdown between former champion Israel Adesanya and surging contender Nassourdine Imavov.
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Main Event: Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov
Middleweight Bout (185 lbs)
Two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (24-4, 13-4 UFC) enters as the No. 3-ranked fighter in the division but is in unfamiliar territory following three losses in his past five fights. Meanwhile, No. 8-ranked Nassourdine Imavov (15-4, 7-2 UFC) is looking for his fourth consecutive win and an opportunity to leapfrog contenders like Khamzat Chimaev in the title picture.
Adesanya opened as a -185 favorite but has seen his odds shift to -170 as bettors put 59% of the money on Imavov (+140). Despite no title being on the line, Adesanya insists this is a must-win fight for his legacy.
“Just because there’s not a belt on the line, I don’t want to diminish this fight like it’s not important,” Adesanya said. “I’m trying to do this one for myself, so it’s really important to me.”
For Imavov, this fight represents his chance to break through the division’s elite, with a title fight looming for the winner of next week’s Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland bout.
“I think Adesanya is going to come very focused, very hungry,” Imavov said. “I hope he’s going to be in the best shape so I can beat the best Israel Adesanya.”
Co-Main Event: Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Page
Welterweight Bout (170 lbs)
The undefeated Shara Magomedov (15-0, 4-0 UFC) puts his unblemished record on the line against former Bellator standout Michael “Venom” Page (22-3, 1-1 UFC) in an electric welterweight matchup.
Magomedov enters as the -185 favorite, drawing 70% of the money, while Page seeks to bounce back after a loss to Ian Machado Garry.
Heavyweight Showdown: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Heavyweight Bout (265 lbs)
Sergei Pavlovich (18-3, 6-3 UFC) is in desperate need of a win after back-to-back losses, but he remains a -325 favorite against the powerful Jairzinho Rozenstruik (15-5, 9-5 UFC), who is riding a two-fight winning streak.
Despite Pavlovich being the betting favorite, Rozenstruik has drawn 78% of total bets at +260, making him one of the most popular underdogs on the card.
Bantamweight Battle: Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira
Bantamweight Bout (135 lbs)
Veteran Said Nurmagomedov (18-3, 7-2 UFC) returns after 15 months away to face rising Vinicius Oliveira (21-3, 2-0 UFC), a graduate of Dana White’s Contender Series.
While Nurmagomedov is the -160 favorite, the public has backed Oliveira (+135) with 65% of total bets, making this a closely contested fight.
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Lightweight Clash: Fares Ziam vs. Mike Davis
Lightweight Bout (155 lbs)
Both Fares Ziam (16-4, 6-2 UFC) and Mike Davis (11-2, 4-1 UFC) enter with four-fight win streaks, making this a pivotal fight in the division.
Davis opened as the -275 favorite, but bettors have pushed the odds closer to -140, with Ziam backed by 51% of the bets and 52% of the money.
Main Card Opener: Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli
Featherweight Bout (145 lbs)
Muhammad Naimov (11-3, 3-1 UFC) aims to bounce back from his first UFC loss against Kaan Ofli (11-3-1, 4-1 UFC).
Naimov is the biggest favorite on the card at -350, with a massive 91% of the money backing him to secure a win.
UFC Fight Night 250 Betting Trends & Notes:
- Adesanya (-170) remains the favorite, but public money is leaning toward Imavov (+140).
- Rozenstruik (+260) has been the most popular underdog bet despite Pavlovich’s heavy favorite status.
- Oliveira (+135) has drawn 65% of the bets over Nurmagomedov (-160), making this one of the closest matchups on the card.
- Ziam (+110) and Davis (-140) is the closest fight in terms of betting action, nearly split down the middle.
- Naimov (-350) is the most heavily backed fighter on the card, with 91% of the money.
With high-stakes matchups across multiple divisions, UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia promises fireworks as contenders look to stake their claim for title shots. Will Adesanya reclaim his dominance, or will Imavov pull off the upset and shake up the middleweight division?
