The representative of France, Nassourdine Imavov (15-4), will compete in the main event of the UFC against the former two-time middleweight champion from New Zealand of Yoruba descent, Israel Adesanya (24-4). It has been revealed that Imavov received training assistance from a Kazakh fighter, as reported by Vesti.kz .
It turns out that the fighter who helped him is the number one contender for the UFC welterweight title, Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0). The athletes are friends, which is why the Kazakh participated in the training of the ethnic Dagestani, who is set to engage in one of the most significant fights of his career, according to RMC Sport .
Imavov is on a three-fight winning streak and is ranked fifth in the world's premier promotion. His opponent is three positions higher, having lost his last two bouts. Last year, Adesanya lost in a championship fight to South African Dricus du Plessis (22-2).
Rakhmonov, for his part, is still awaiting a match with the UFC welterweight champion, Belal Muhammad (24-3). It is worth noting that the last time the Kazakh stepped into the octagon was in December 2024, where he achieved a victory over Irishman Ian Garry (15-1) by unanimous decision.
Did Shavkat Rakhmonov "choose" another country over Kazakhstan?