“Stop crying like a b**ch!” Israel Adesanya REVEALS chat with Sean Strickland during post-fight embrace at UFC 293

Sean Strickland holds a top spot as one of the most unfiltered characters in the promotion. But emotions can get the best of anyone. At 28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC, “Tarzan” bagged his middleweight title at UFC 293, going up against Israel Adesanya. After the unexpected win, before the post-fight Octagon presser, the duo had engaged in a sporting embrace. Strickland, otherwise infamous for his brash and unhinged demeanor, also let out a tear or two. Now, ‘The Last Stylebender’ has weighed in on the same.

After the UFC Seasonal Press Conference in December of last year, Strickland had engaged head-on, snapping at his peers. But when it came to him, he could not take the same. Rival Dricus Du Plessis mocked Strickland by digging deep into his abusive childhood, thus enraging Strickland. Now, here’s what Adesanya added to it, speaking on his YouTube channel:

The whole thing with him crying, you know what’s funny? When you roll the clip back and he’s crying in the cage, I was like ‘quit crying like a b****’ and he hugs me...I’m joking obviously but it’s kind of ironic. I was like ‘quit crying like a b****’ cause he’s making fun of me ‘he’s such a soy boy’ and this and that. It’s just funny. I find it funny how he can dish it but can’t take it. That’s very telling for me...

Israel Adesanya said

Concurrently, Strickland was brought to tears recollecting his childhood trauma, on comedian Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast. The fighter reiterated this being the sole reason for the UFC 296 ringside brawl, which forced security intervention. Adesanya’s criticism stems from these, as well as the fighter’s unmatched sneers from UFC 296 Media Day presser.

Conversely, though, the former middleweight champion did hint at his critique being just a joke, in the spirit of sportsmanship. Strcikland’s momentous win had stirred up much disbelief, being labeled one of the biggest upsets in combat sports history. But, despite proactive banters and disses, both fighters have a deep-seated respect for each other.

Champion Sean Strickland weighs in on reason for Israel Adesanya’s loss

Sean Strickland makes his maiden defense at UFC 297, this Saturday. The headlining main event takes place at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto. Ahead of this, he had a sitdown with ESPN MMA‘s Megan Olivi, for UFC ‘Embedded‘ Fight Week Vlog – Episode 1, at Las Vegas. While he nudged in on nothing changing in his game plan for his middleweight title defense, in a change of pace, the fighter humbly hinted that anything is possible.

Strickland, otherwise characteristically overt and brash prompted that he could subsequently lose the 185lbs title gold at any time. Additionally, he also commended on peer, and previous champion, Israel Adesanya.

However, the tinge of humbleness did not sustain long. Check out what the fighter had to say, theorizing on Adesanya’s defeat at UFC 293:

The fighter took an unnecessary jab at Adesanya’s behavioral traits. Prime of those was a disturbing tweet from the fighter going viral, about his pet dog.

While the matter was mostly over, “Tarzan” does not care about respawning such an instance yet again. Invoking Adesanya’s age-old controversy, the champion prompted on being leveled at his own pace and putting in maximum efforts for his title defense.

Only time will tell what holds for the champion’s future.

In case you missed it:

• “Are we having this conversation?” Sean Strickland reveals being confused as Israel Adesanya confronted him about dead dog jokes after UFC 293 defeat
• “Stick to being tough guy,” Dricus du Plessis goes off on ‘Mr. Moral compass’ Sean Strickland’s hypocrisy after getting feelings hurt

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