A middleweight matchup between Israel Adesanya and Shara Magomedov is in the works for UFC Saudi Arabia on November 28. The bout has not been confirmed as official.
A middleweight fight between Israel Adesanya and Shara Magomedov is reportedly being put together for UFC Saudi Arabia on November 28. The matchup has not been confirmed as official, and the promotion has not made any announcement.
Adesanya, nicknamed "The Last Stylebender," is 24-6 and ranked ninth at 185 pounds. The 37-year-old fights out of City Kickboxing and represents Nigeria. A switch-stance striker, he stands six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, a 203 cm span that is among the longest tools in the division. He lands 4.03 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Magomedov, known as "Bullet," is 17-1 and sits at number 15 in the middleweight rankings. The 32-year-old Russian trains with Gorets Fight Club and fights from an orthodox stance. He is six-foot-two with a 73-inch reach. His striking numbers stand out: he lands 5.93 significant strikes per minute with 62 percent accuracy. He has not attempted a takedown or a submission per 15 minutes, which marks him as a pure striker.
Why it matters
- The fight would pair two of the division's most dedicated strikers, with Magomedov's volume and accuracy meeting Adesanya's length and kickboxing pedigree.
- Adesanya is ranked ninth and Magomedov 15th, so a win would carry weight in the middleweight rankings, particularly for the lower-ranked man.
- The reach gap is significant, with Adesanya holding a seven-inch advantage over Magomedov.
- A matchup of two high-level strikers with minimal grappling offense could keep the fight on the feet.
Until the UFC confirms the bout, the pairing remains a report rather than a finalized fight.
