RIYADH: The UFC returns here Saturday with a blockbuster middleweight main event featuring former world champion Israel 鈥淭he Last Stylebender鈥� Adesanya and rising contender Nassourdine 鈥淭he Sniper鈥� Imavov.

Adesanya, the UFC鈥檚 No. 2-ranked middleweight, says he is ready for the fight against Imavov at Riyadh鈥檚 anb Arena, which marks the company鈥檚 first event in the region this year.

鈥淭his fight is for me,鈥� Adesanya said at a press conference on Thursday. 鈥淚鈥檓 doing this to prove to myself that I鈥檓 still in the game and dangerous.鈥�

Commenting on his opponent, Adesanya said: 鈥淗e鈥檚 good and he鈥檚 a young guy coming up but it鈥檚 my job to send him back down, respectfully.

鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing that he brings that I haven鈥檛 seen, it鈥檚 up to him to show me something that I haven鈥檛 seen before.鈥�

Imavov, currently ranked No. 5, spoke about the challenge ahead: 鈥淚鈥檓 very good, I鈥檓 fast, I鈥檓 accurate and I can鈥檛 wait for this fight. I鈥檓 preparing a surprise for you on Saturday night.鈥�

He added: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 focus too much on him (Adesanya), I focus on myself and I hope he鈥檚 going to be in the best shape so I can beat the best of him.鈥�

Middleweight Shara Magomedov, who takes on Michael 鈥淰enom鈥� Page in the co-main event, said about his return to the Kingdom: 鈥淚鈥檓 happy to show the fans the fight they deserve. Page doesn鈥檛 understand what he has in front of him.鈥�

Magomedov added: 鈥淗e鈥檚 not going to be able to hide away from my bullets, I鈥檓 here to show him that I鈥檓 the greatest fighter in the world.鈥�

Page expressed excitement about fighting in Riyadh: 鈥満诹仙缜� is becoming the hub of combat sports, and I love being here and being so welcomed by you guys, I appreciate every one of the fans for coming to be with us.鈥�

When asked about Magomedov鈥檚 self-confidence, Page said: 鈥淚 do believe he is going to be stubborn enough to believe in himself.鈥�

Page added: There鈥檚 certain patterns to what he does, there鈥檚 nothing to worry about. I get why other people are wowed by it and I understand his star quality and I appreciate that, but he鈥檚 never stood in front of something as confusing as me.鈥�

Heavyweight contender Said Nurmagomedov, who faces Vinicius Oliveira, said: 鈥淚 feel good, and I feel very relaxed.鈥�

Oliveira said he was looking forward to the bout. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 fear anybody, I鈥檓 very excited to be here, and be prepared because the king is coming.鈥�

Russia鈥檚 Sergei Pavlovich, who will be in action against Jairzinho Rozenstruik, said: 鈥淗e鈥檚 a very explosive guy, he鈥檚 very fast and he鈥檚 got a lot of experience, so you have to be ready for anything when it comes to him, and I am ready for all three rounds.鈥�

Rozenstruik said he was confident. 鈥淚鈥檓 never nervous, I鈥檓 very relaxed. I鈥檓 bringing all my energy to the Octagon.鈥�

MAIN CARD

Middleweight: Israel Adesanya vs. Nassourdine Imavov

Middleweight: Shara Magomedov vs. Michael Page

Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik  

Bantamweight: Said Nurmagomedov vs. Vinicius Oliveira

Lightweight: Fares Ziam vs. Mike Davis

PRELIMS

Featherweight: Muhammad Naimov vs. Kaan Ofli

Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev vs. Thomas Petersen

Lightweight: Terrance McKinney vs. Damir Hadzovic

Women鈥檚 flyweight: Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Mayra Bueno Silva

Featherweight: Bogdan Grad vs. Lucas Alexander

Heavyweight: Hamdy Adelwahab vs. Jamal Pogues