Former UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, on Saturday night suffered his second career knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov.

Imavov won the fight via a second-round TKO in the main event of UFC Fight Night 250 in Saudi Arabia.

Adesanya, who entered the bout on a two-fight losing streak following defeats to Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis, started well with a series of hard low kicks.

However, Imavov remained undeterred, landing a stiff shovel hook that snapped back Adesanya’s head in the first round.

The end came shortly after the second round began when a massive right hand from the Dagestani-born Frenchman dropped the Nigerian-Kiwi fighter to the canvas.

Imavov followed up with a left uppercut and ground strikes, forcing referee Marc Goddard to stop the contest and hand Adesanya his third consecutive loss.