UFC president Dana White recently announced that Israel Adesanya, ranked No. 4 in the world pound-for-pound and No. 1 in the middleweight rankings by ESPN, will defend his UFC middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 293. This matchup was not the original plan for the main event, as the organization had hoped to see Adesanya face either Robert Whittaker or Dricus Du Plessis. However, due to an injury sustained by Du Plessis, Strickland was selected as the opponent for Adesanya. Despite the change in plans, fans can still expect an intense battle for the middleweight title.
The Animosity
The animosity between Adesanya and Du Plessis stems from a comment made by Du Plessis after his fight with Whittaker, in which he claimed to be the first “real” African champion. Du Plessis argued that previous champions from Africa, such as Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou, no longer reside on the continent. Adesanya took offense to these remarks, as he still lives in Africa and considers himself a representative of the region. Despite the desire for a matchup between Adesanya and Du Plessis, the latter’s foot injury prevented the fight from taking place.
The Road to UFC 293
Israel Adesanya, a two-time UFC middleweight champion, will enter the octagon with a record of 24-2. His most recent fight was a second-round knockout victory against Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in April, avenging his previous loss to Pereira. With five successful middleweight title defenses, Adesanya is making a name for himself in the UFC history books.
On the other side, Sean Strickland has experienced a recent resurgence, winning his last two fights after a two-fight losing streak. Strickland, a resident of Las Vegas, has a record of 27-5 and has won seven of his past nine fights since moving up to middleweight in 2020. His most recent victory was a second-round TKO against Abus Magomedov.
An Australian Showdown
The matchup between Adesanya and Strickland will take place on September 9 in Sydney, Australia. This highly anticipated event will not only showcase Adesanya’s title defense but also give Australian fans the opportunity to witness top-level MMA action in their home country. With Adesanya’s popularity in the region and Strickland’s determination to make a name for himself, this fight promises to deliver an unforgettable night of action.
The change in plans for the main event of UFC 293 has resulted in an intriguing matchup between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. Although fans may have expected a different opponent for Adesanya, Strickland has proven himself as a formidable contender. As the date approaches, MMA enthusiasts around the world eagerly await this clash of middleweight titans.
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