TLDR
- Israel Adesanya initially called UFC 332 a Fight Night card before realizing it was a numbered event
- Adesanya now says the card quality is better than expected but lacks star power and compelling storylines
- UFC 332 will be the first UFC event to air on CBS under the new $7.7 billion Paramount-CBS deal
- Adesanya criticized Court McGee’s placement on the early prelims despite his UFC veteran status
- The card features Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Payton Talbott in the co-main event and Rafael dos Anjos returning after two years
Sources: yardbarker.com
Israel Adesanya initially dismissed UFC 332 as a glorified Fight Night card. But after taking a closer look at the lineup, the former two-time middleweight champion walked back his criticism.
Adesanya now says the fights themselves aren’t the problem. Instead, he believes the card lacks star power and compelling storylines that draw casual fans to watch.
“People are saying it’s the worst card in UFC history… but actually looking at the card, that might not really be the case,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “The only thing is that it lacks a bit of star power and also universal storylines.”
The fighter explained that storylines come from fight week content, embedded episodes, countdowns, and fighter vlogs. These elements help fans become invested in the matchups, he said.
Israel Adesanya speaks about his fight with Yoel Romero, and calls it one of the most BORING fights in the history of the UFC ðŸ˜ðŸ¤¯
“I had one of the most boring fights in the history of the company alongside Yoel Romero, and we’re both dangerous men. When he hit me with that… pic.twitter.com/IaWlc11ijo
— Title Fight (@TitleFightMedia) September 30, 2026
UFC 332 Makes History in Salt Lake City
UFC 332 takes place in Salt Lake City, Utah, marking the promotion’s fifth trip to the city. The event comes two years after UFC 307, where Alex Pereira knocked out Khalil Rountree Jr. in the fourth round.
The card will make history as the first UFC event to air on CBS under the promotion’s $7.7 billion deal with Paramount-CBS. This broadcast agreement raised expectations for the event.
“So yeah, the stories. There’s no storyline,” Adesanya continued. “Because even though you guys want to clown WWE, you love a storyline.”
Adesanya also criticized the placement of Court McGee on the early prelims. McGee, a former Ultimate Fighter winner, faces Eric Nolan in the opening bout instead of competing on the main card.
“Bro, look, Court McGee as an early prelim,” Adesanya said. “This is the Ultimate Fighter winner. He’s a veteran of this game.”
McGee has fought 24 times in the UFC over his career. However, the 41-year-old has gone 1-4 in his last five fights, with his most recent bout ending in a decision loss to Michael Chiesa.
Adesanya’s Original Confusion About UFC 332
Adesanya’s initial comments came during his Precision with Mighty & Izzy podcast with Demetrious Johnson. During the conversation, he admitted he didn’t know who was headlining the event.
The moment got funnier when Adesanya realized UFC 332 was a numbered event, not a Fight Night card. “Oh, it’s not a Fight Night? Oh, really? Oh, snap!” Adesanya said. “I thought it was a Fight Night.”
Despite his concerns, Adesanya acknowledged the card has several quality fights. The co-main event features former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo moving up to face Payton Talbott.
Figueiredo has gone 1-4 in his last five fights and seeks to rebuild his career. Talbott is rising through the ranks after defeating Felipe Lima and former two-division champion Henry Cejudo in 2024.
The card also includes middleweight knockout artist Ateba Gautier against Roman Kopylov. King Green returns to action against Esteban Ribovics in another matchup.
On the prelims, former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos returns after a two-year break. He faces Alexander Hernandez in a fight that has already generated interest among fans.
Adesanya said UFC 332 might not have the superstar needed to feel like a major numbered event. But he believes the fights could still deliver once the cage door closes.
