Shara Magomedov: Israel Adesanya 'a great matchup' for me

There's a matchup out there that has caught the eye of UFC middleweight standout Shara Magomedov.

>Magomedov (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who picked up a decision win over Michel Pereira on Saturday in the UFC Fight Night 280 co-main event in Baku, Azerbaijan, wouldn't mind throwing down with former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

>During the UFC Baku post-fight news conference, reporters suggested the matchup between "Stylebender" and "Bullet." Magomedov likes the idea of the fight and would welcome it next. However, he won't campaign against Abus Magomedov, his teamate who also called for a fight with Adesanya after his own win at UFC Fight Night 280.

>"Israel Adesanya is a great matchup," Magomedov said at the UFC Fight Night 280 post-fight press conference. "He's fast. He's got a good size. He's tall. He's very interesting. He's not that old, still. I think it would be an exciting matchup, and I think he would be a great, exciting matchup for me, to be honest. But if I need to let my brother Abus take that matchup, then that's what I'll do. Abus is awesome. We trained for this camp. We did the whole camp together."

>Magomedov has won two straight fights since suffering his first defeat in the UFC, which came in early 2025 against Michael Page. Magomedov said he's game to get a step up in competition and face ranked opposition.

>"Whoever the UFC gives me, I'm ready to fight them," Magomedov said. "Anybody from top 15, top 10, even top five, I'm ready for everybody. I'm competitive, and I'm ready to take any fight. I appreciate the fights the UFC has given me and all the opportunities."

>This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Shara Magomedov: Israel Adesanya 'a great matchup' for me