Two-time UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has spoken out about his stunning title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293, expressing quiet confidence despite the shock result and indicating his desire to become a three-time UFC champion.
In a recent interview posted on his YouTube channel, two-time UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, opened up about his unexpected loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293. Adesanya, also known as “The Last Stylebender,” was notably upset after the bout, describing his performance as “like a bad dream.” Despite his disappointment, Adesanya remained optimistic and told his brother David, who was interviewing him, that he still felt “quietly confident.”
The Sept. 10 defeat came as a shock to many, as Adesanya, 34, was an overwhelming favourite to win. However, Strickland outperformed him in what was an impressive standup battle. Adesanya was even knocked down by Strickland’s powerful first-round flurry. The American, known for his brashness, concluded the fight by taunting Adesanya, daring him to come forward. Despite the severity of the knockdown, Adesanya insisted that he had fully recovered by the start of Round 2 but admitted he was thrown off by Strickland’s relentless pace and pressure.
In reflecting upon the fight, Adesanya admitted that his performance lacked the usual intensity. He cited the change in opponent from Dricus du Plessis to Sean Strickland as a potential reason, confessing that he did not feel the same level of animosity towards Strickland. Despite this, he maintained that he felt great physically leading up to the fight. However, once inside the cage, his energy levels dropped drastically, feeling as if his arms were “noodles” and he was unable to apply his game plan successfully.
Despite the setback, Adesanya is still looking ahead with optimism. When asked about his future fighting plans, he responded with a simple, “We’ll see.” He reiterated that his story is far from over and that his focus now is to become a three-time UFC middleweight champion. He emphasized that the belt, while important, was simply an accessory, stating, “how many times have I said it’s just a fancy tiara that brings more money and this and that, rah, rah, rah.” Furthermore, he made it clear that he does not care about who his next title opponent would be. Displaying utmost confidence, he remarked, “I’m just going to do it again, just for fun.”