A middleweight fight between Israel Adesanya and Sharabutdin “Shara Bullet” Magomedov will reportedly headline UFC Fight Night 295 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Dec. 5.
The event was initially scheduled to take place a week earlier but has now been pushed back to early December. The UFC has not officially announced the reason for the change or confirmed whether it has anything to do with the recent unrest in Riyadh.
For the 37-year-old Adesanya, this matchup could be his final opportunity to get back to winning ways after four consecutive losses over the past three years.
The former two-time UFC middleweight champion began his losing streak with an upset decision loss to Sean Strickland in 2023. He followed that defeat with a submission loss to Dricus du Plessis before suffering consecutive TKO defeats against Nassourdine Imavov and Joe Pyfer.
Adesanya’s most recent setback came at UFC Seattle in March 2026, where Pyfer stopped him in the second round.
Now, the Nigerian-born New Zealander could face the 32-year-old Magomedov, who holds a 6-1 record in the UFC. Shara Bullet has won his last two fights against Marc-Andre Barriault and Michel Pereira, although those victories have not earned him a place in the middleweight rankings.
If the UFC confirms the matchup, Adesanya will have a chance to prove that he still belongs among the division’s elite. Here are four reasons the former champion should want to end his losing streak.
1. Adesanya Has Faced Tougher Competition
Adesanya’s four-fight losing streak has come against experienced opposition, including former champions and ranked contenders.
Strickland, du Plessis, Imavov and Pyfer have all presented different challenges, and three of those defeats came by stoppage.
Magomedov, meanwhile, has a 17-1 professional record and a 6-1 run in the UFC. His only professional defeat came against Michael Page, who outpointed him with an effective striking approach.
Adesanya has faced some of the best middleweights in UFC history and held the championship on two occasions. His experience in five-round fights and championship-level competition could give him an advantage over Magomedov.
However, Adesanya cannot afford to rely solely on his past achievements. He must demonstrate that he can still compete at the highest level.
2. The Style Matchup Favors Adesanya
Shara Bullet is a dangerous striker who has recorded 12 knockout victories in his 17 professional wins. He has also produced spectacular finishes, including a spinning backfist knockout against Armen Petrosyan.
However, Magomedov has shown defensive weaknesses against technically sound opponents.
In his defeat to Page, the British fighter used lateral movement and well-timed counters to frustrate Magomedov whenever he tried to close the distance and land powerful strikes.
Adesanya could exploit similar openings. The former champion remains one of the most technically gifted strikers in UFC history, with precise counterstriking and an ability to punish opponents who commit too heavily to their attacks.
According to official UFC records, Adesanya’s 13 knockdowns place him alongside Anderson Silva for the most in middleweight history.
Magomedov’s aggressive, highlight-reel approach could give Adesanya opportunities to land clean counters. The former champion has historically excelled against opponents who rush into range without properly setting up their attacks.
3. Adesanya Must Take Advantage of Magomedov’s Limitations
Magomedov’s physical limitations also form part of the conversation surrounding this matchup. The Russian fighter is blind in one eye, a condition that has attracted attention throughout his UFC career.
However, Adesanya cannot afford to treat that as a guarantee of victory. Magomedov has continued to compete at a high level despite the condition, and his UFC record shows that he remains a dangerous opponent.
Instead, Adesanya must focus on exploiting any openings Magomedov presents in the cage. His ability to read opponents, manage distance and identify defensive gaps could prove decisive.
The former champion also needs to avoid unnecessary exchanges. Magomedov has enough power and creativity to punish mistakes, particularly when opponents allow him to dictate the pace.
4. Adesanya Has More Than His Reputation to Fight For
Four consecutive defeats have placed Adesanya at a critical point in his career. After dominating the middleweight division for years, he now faces serious questions about whether he can return to championship contention.
A victory over Magomedov would not immediately restore his former status, but it could give him the momentum he needs to rebuild his career.
It would also show that he can still make the necessary adjustments after several difficult losses. Magomedov, on the other hand, would have an opportunity to secure the biggest victory of his UFC career by defeating a former two-time champion.
That makes the potential matchup important for both fighters, although Adesanya arguably has more to lose.
The former champion must prove that his recent struggles do not mark the beginning of the end of his career. A convincing performance against Magomedov could silence some of his critics and remind the division of what he can still do.
Conclusion
Adesanya has the experience, technical striking and championship pedigree to make this a competitive fight. Magomedov’s knockout power and unpredictable attacks, however, mean the former champion cannot afford to underestimate him.
The reported matchup could give Adesanya the opportunity to end his losing streak and begin rebuilding his position in the middleweight division.
However, his reputation alone will not win the fight. He must show that he can defend intelligently, control the distance and capitalise on Magomedov’s mistakes.
If the UFC confirms the bout for Dec. 5, Adesanya will have a chance to prove that he still has something left to offer at the highest level.
