Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has declared his intention to bring excitement back to the division ahead of his highly anticipated return against Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night 250 in Riyadh next month.

Speaking with MMA Junkie, the Nigerian-born fighter expressed confidence in his ability to reignite the buzz in the middleweight category.

“Without me, middleweight is getting boring. So, it’s time to make it interesting,” Adesanya stated. “For the fans, the preparation might seem dull, but the fight itself will be thrilling. For me, it’s about proving I’m still the best.”

Ahead of the February 1 clash, the 35-year-old has been training alongside former rival Robert Whittaker, a partnership that surprised many fans and UFC stars. Whittaker, whom Adesanya defeated twice during his championship reign, sees his former opponent as the favorite.

“I’d have to lean into Izzy being the favorite. Like, he’s so good at what he does,” Whittaker remarked on his YouTube channel. “But Imavov’s a bit of a dog. He can go the distance and push the pace. He might aim to force Izzy into making errors, much like Dricus Du Plessis did.”

Adesanya’s upcoming bout marks his return following back-to-back losses to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 and Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305. A win against the fifth-ranked Imavov could set the stage for another title shot or a number-one contender fight.