Abus Magomedov calls out Israel Adesanya, open to Strickland rematch

Abus Magomedov has put the middleweight division on notice, calling out former champion Israel Adesanya and signaling his willingness to run back his previous fight with current titleholder Sean Strickland.

Magomedov, who carries a 29-7-1 record, stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. The 35-year-old is a well-rounded threat, averaging 2.61 takedowns per 15 minutes while landing significant strikes at a 49 percent accuracy rate — among the sharper numbers in the division. He also discussed the origins of his distinctive elbow technique, a weapon that has become a calling card in his fights.

Adesanya, the Nigerian-born City Kickboxing product ranked eighth in the middleweight division, represents a marquee opponent. The 36-year-old switch-stance striker holds a 24-6 record and brings elite kickboxing credentials, standing six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach. He lands at 48 percent striking accuracy and is almost exclusively a stand-up fighter, averaging just 0.05 takedowns per 15 minutes, which sets up an intriguing stylistic contrast against Magomedov's grappling-infused approach.

Strickland, meanwhile, is the reigning middleweight champion at 31-7. The 35-year-old Xtreme Couture product is one of the division's most active strikers, piling up 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. A rematch between Strickland and Magomedov would carry title implications and the added weight of unfinished business.

Why it matters

• Magomedov is pushing himself into the middleweight title conversation from two directions simultaneously
• A fight with Adesanya would pit a top-ranked striker against a dangerous mixed-threat challenger
• A Strickland rematch carries championship stakes, given Strickland's current status as titleholder
• Magomedov's grappling volume creates stylistic problems for either opponent's stand-up-heavy game