Months after becoming the UFC middleweight champion by dethroning the former middleweight champion Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya is all set to fight Sean Strickland. The Nigerian fighter has won all of his fights with knockouts or unanimous decisions.
However, at this point, the relevant question is: What does the Middleweight champion’s career lack? The answer would be a submission finish. The Last Stylebender is aware of Sean Strickland’s wrestling prowess and is ready to engage in wrestling. Adesanya aims to check off his pre-retirement goal against Sean Strickland.
Adesanya aims Strickland submission win
Israel Adesanya hasn’t secured a victory by submission yet. The Last Stylebender boasts a record of 24-2-0, with all 24 of his wins coming from either knockouts or unanimous decisions. However, this time Izzy is hopeful of changing that.
Izzy says he wants a submission in the UFC before he retires and that he might get it against Sean Strickland pic.twitter.com/uUCul8W5Sb
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) September 3, 2023
In a recent interview with Aaron Bronsteter, the reigning middleweight champion revealed his desire to win a fight by submission when asked, ‘What is the one thing you want to achieve before you retire?’
“It might be this fight, I know he’s going to wrestle. He’d be dumb not to, I know he’s gonna try. And mix it up. He’s doing this whole thing. Man dance, man dance. He’s done a crotch sniff. That’s what he’s gonna do.” added Israel Adesanya.
Strickland recently revealed that he has been wrestling in his camp. However, there’s more to Sean’s ongoing training ahead of his title adventure.
“I think to myself, I want to fucking stand and bang with this guy… But I should wrestle. I’ve been planning to wrestle.” said Strickland.
Izzy to face Strickland at UFC 293
Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, the two top middleweight fighters of the UFC, are scheduled to face each other in the Octagon at UFC 293 on September 10 as the Ultimate Fighting Championship makes its return in Australia, Sydney.
Israel Adesanya will defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia, UFC announced Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/IviXAe3ivx
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) August 8, 2023
The Last Stylebender will be defending his middleweight title against ‘Tarzan’ and Adesanya will return to the octagon for the first time since knocking out Alex Pereira at UFC 287 back in April. In the victory, the dominant striker avenged a previous loss to Pereira that stripped the Brazilian MMA fighter of his belt.
Strickland enters the fight fresh off a knockout victory over Abusupiyan Magomedov. The Californian fighter has climbed the ranks on the strength of winning eight of his last 10 bouts. Meanwhile the bout against Strickland will be the tenth consecutive fight for Adesanya with the belt on the line.
Do you think Israel Adesanya will be able to check off his pre-retirement goal of getting a submission win against Strickland? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
