![Fan shares their thoughts on Israel Adesanya being announced as headliner for UFC Saudi Arabia [Image courtesy: Getty Images, and @FightfanSavage on X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/1a130-17341950890366-1920.jpg)
![Fan shares their thoughts on Israel Adesanya being announced as headliner for UFC Saudi Arabia [Image courtesy: Getty Images, and @FightfanSavage on X]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fans recently reacted after Dana White announced the official card for UFC Saudi Arabia, which will see Israel Adesanya take on Nassourdine Imavov in the main event. The bout will mark 'Izzy's first non-title fight since 2019, when he earned a unanimous decision win over Anderson Silva.
White took to his X account to make the announcement that the promotion will be returning to Saudi Arabia for a star studded Fight Night card. In addition to Adesanya vs. Imavov, the UFC CEO also announced a middleweight clash between Shara 'Bullet' Magomedov will take on Michael 'Venom' Page in the co-main event.
Check out Dana White's announcement below:
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Fans took to the comments and expressed their excitement for what is already shaping up to be an exciting Fight Night card with the potential for highlight-reel knockouts. They also mentioned that White did an excellent job with his fight selections and believe both will live up to the hype:
"Banger fights. MVP exposes Shara"
"Dana cooked"
"Oh wow. Big fights for the Saudi card. Shara vs. Page is a banger and should be super technical. Really excited for that and it's at middleweight."
Check out the fan reaction comments below:
![Fan reaction comments to UFC Saudi Arabia fight announcements [Image courtesy: @danawhite on X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/de31a-17341937398782-1920.jpg)
Is Israel Adesanya's status as top contender in jeopardy?
Israel Adesanya will be competing in his first non-title bout since 2019, however, his recent stretch of form makes his upcoming bout against Nassourdine Imavov a lot more significant.
Adesanya is currently the No.2 ranked UFC middleweight and comes into the bout following back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland and reigning champion Dricus du Plessis.
Based on the current landscape of the 185-pound division, 'Izzy' needs a win in order to remain in the title picture as Khamzat Chimaev is believed to be next in line for a title shot after Strickland. A loss to Imavov could see 'The Sniper' insert his name in the title picture at Adesanya's expense.
Check out highlights from Israel Adesanya's most recent non-title fight against Anderson Silva below:
