Two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes he has reached a new level as he prepares for his comeback fight against Nassourdine Imavov in February.

“There are always new levels to reach, and I’ve hit one now,” Adesanya said on The Ariel Helwani Show.

The Nigerian-born fighter, who lost his title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 last August, revealed he has made key adjustments in his training and personal life ahead of the historic UFC event in Saudi Arabia.

“For this camp, I’ve focused on aligning my life with my ultimate goal. I stayed away from distractions—people and places that don’t serve my purpose,” he explained.

Reflecting on his consecutive losses to Du Plessis and Sean Strickland, the 35-year-old admitted he had approached those fights poorly but has now learned from his mistakes.

“I was confident in those fights, but I took things too personally. I didn’t handle them well, but I don’t regret it. I’ve addressed my mistakes and improved significantly,” he said.

Adesanya’s clash with Imavov will be his first non-title bout since his win over Anderson Silva in 2019. With a record of 24 wins and 16 knockouts, he is determined to make an impact on the division once again.

“Without me, the middleweight division is boring. It’s time to bring the excitement back,” Adesanya told MMA Junkie.

A victory over the fifth-ranked Imavov could position Adesanya for a title shot or a number-one contender fight as he works his way back to the top.