Sean Strickland fears not sticking to plan against Israel Adesanya despite training hard

Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya do not like each other. Strickland outlined his gameplan for the title fight against Adesanya.

Sean Strickland fears not sticking to plan against Israel Adesanya despite training hard

Sean Strickland beat former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya ( Image via Imago )

As the clock ticks down to UFC 293’s main event, Sean Strickland has grown more hostile towards Israel Adesanya. Sean Strickland will challenge Adesanya for the middleweight title, capping off a night of action at Qudos Bank Arena.

This much-anticipated showdown started back in July 2022. The two fighters engaged in a fiery exchange between the two fighters at the UFC 276 pre-fight press conference. Strickland has openly emphasized grappling as a critical component of his game plan for UFC 293. He said it was his most promising path to victory. However, he remains uncertain about how events will transpire once he enters the cage. He admitted, “We’ve been grappling our f*cking asses off,” Strickland said. “…But when I get in there,… Sometimes the reta*d takes over. I’m like,…So we’ll find out.”

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Strickland consistently seized every opportunity to hurl sharp verbal jabs at the reigning champion. These sentiments remain unchanged as fight week intensifies. In his most recent interview, Strickland conceded Adesanya’s status as one of the world’s top kickboxers. Nevertheless, he didn’t hold back in questioning his character.

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Sean Strickland’s strategy remains a closely guarded secret in the lead-up to this high-stakes battle. It has left fans eagerly anticipating the moment the fighters finally collide in the octagon. The verbal warfare between Strickland and Adesanya soon makes way for an epic showdown in the octagon.

Related: “If it was 1942, he’d be goose-stepping,” Sean Strickland goes off on ‘spineless’ Israel Adesanya for being a sellout

Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya hurl criticisms at each other before UFC 293 face off

Sean Strickland Israel Adesanya
Sean Strickland called out Israel Adesanya ( Image source: L/R- MMA Fighting )

In the lead-up to UFC 293, Sean Strickland has left no room for ambiguity in expressing his views on Israel Adesanya. Strickland’s penchant for unfiltered remarks has come to the forefront, and he didn’t shy away from sharing his disdain for the current middleweight champion.

Strickland emphasized that Izzy embodied spinelessness. During an interview with MMA Junkie, he pointed out that Adesanya readily hops onto any advantageous bandwagon while contrasting himself as a “man of the people.” Adesanya, equally outspoken, didn’t mince his words when discussing Strickland. Speaking exclusively to The MacLife, he openly labeled Strickland as “insecure” and found his behavior cringe-worthy – comments that didn’t sit well with Strickland. In response, Strickland swiftly fired back, stating that he does not engage in cringe; Strickland termed Izzy a sellout, someone willing to compromise for more monetary benefits.

As the tension between these two fighters escalated, fight enthusiasts could hardly contain their excitement for their impending clash at the Qudos Arena in Sydney, Australia. Strickland, with a professional record of 27 wins and five losses, is poised to seize his first-ever UFC title. Meanwhile, Adesanya, boasting 24 wins and two losses, is determined to defend his middleweight championship once more, solidifying his legacy in the sport. UFC 293 is on the horizon, promising an electrifying showdown fueled by the fiery exchanges between these two contenders.

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