Israel Adesanya will face Shara Magomedov in a five-round main event at UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, the UFC announced during UFC Vegas 124. Adesanya is looking to snap a four-fight losing streak, while Magomedov is 6-1 in the UFC and coming off wins over Michel Pereira and Marc-Andre Barriault. The co-main event is also five rounds, with Ian Machado Garry facing former Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov in his first fight since losing to Islam Makhachev at UFC 330.
Israel Adesanya will meet Shara Magomedov in a five-round main event at UFC Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, the UFC announced during UFC Vegas 124, as first reported by MMA Fighting. Ian Machado Garry and former Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov will fight in the five-round co-main event.
Adesanya, 37, is 24-6 and ranked ninth at middleweight. The Nigerian comes in on a four-fight losing streak. His most recent recorded fight was a second-round TKO loss to Joe Pyfer on March 28, and before that he lost to Nassourdine Imavov by second-round TKO and to Dricus Du Plessis by fourth-round submission in a title fight at UFC 305. At six-foot-four with a 203 cm reach, the switch-stance striker lands 4.03 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Magomedov, 32, is 17-1 and ranked 15th in the division. The Russian, who trains at Gorets Fight Club, is 6-1 in the UFC and most recently beat Michel Pereira by unanimous decision on June 27. That followed a unanimous decision over Marc-Andre Barriault in July 2025. His one recorded loss came to Michael Page, also by decision. Magomedov is an orthodox striker who lands 5.93 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy and has not attempted a takedown.
Why it matters
- Striking gap: Magomedov out-lands Adesanya by 1.90 significant strikes per minute and is 14 percentage points more accurate.
- Size: Adesanya has a six-inch edge in reach (203 cm to 185 cm) and stands two inches taller.
- Age: Magomedov is five years younger.
- Rankings: Adesanya sits six places above Magomedov, ninth to 15th, so a win would carry more weight for the lower-ranked man.
In the co-main event, Machado Garry returns for the first time since his loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 330. The 28-year-old Irishman is 17-2 and ranked first at welterweight. The Makhachev fight went the full five rounds in a title bout, and he is coming off wins over Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates. He stands six-foot-three with a 188 cm reach, lands 4.29 significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy and averages 0.8 takedowns per 15 minutes. Amosov's record and rankings are not covered in the figures available for this card.
Israel Adesanya vs Shara Magomedov
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