🚨 Israel Adesanya vs. Sharaputdin Magomedov will headline the UFC's December 5th card in Saudi Arabia, per Ariel Helwani! Coming off his TKO loss to Joe Pyfer, Adesanya is hunting for a win to snap his four-fight losing skid against the "Shara Bullet" 🏴☠️
Israel Adesanya is reportedly lined up to headline the UFC's December 5 card in Saudi Arabia against Sharaputdin Magomedov, according to a report from Ariel Helwani. The matchup has not been officially announced by the promotion.
The fight would give Adesanya a chance to bounce back from a TKO loss to Joe Pyfer. That defeat extended a rough stretch for the former champion, who is looking to snap a four-fight skid and get back into the win column.
Adesanya, 24-6-0, competes at middleweight, where he is currently ranked ninth. The 37-year-old Nigerian-born fighter trains out of City Kickboxing and fights from a switch stance. At six-foot-four with an 80-inch reach, he has long been among the rangiest strikers in the division.
His numbers reflect a technical, patient kickboxing approach. Adesanya lands 4.03 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while rarely looking to grapple, averaging just 0.05 takedowns and 0.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Magomedov, nicknamed the "Shara Bullet," would be the opponent in the main event slot, per the report.
Why it matters
- Adesanya is chasing a win to stop a four-fight losing streak and stay relevant in the middleweight rankings.
- A headline slot in Saudi Arabia would keep the former champion in a high-profile spot despite his recent results.
- The fight would pit Adesanya's reach and volume striking against Magomedov, a fighter with a reputation for aggressive, high-energy offense.
The report places the card on December 5, with the UFC yet to make the bout official.
