WATCH: Sean Strickland struggles to speak out after draining weight cut ahead of UFC 293

Daniel Cormier and Laura Sanko empathized with Sean Strickland at UFC 293 weigh-in show. Strickland's weight cut could impact his performance at UFC 293.

WATCH: Sean Strickland struggles to speak out after draining weight cut ahead of UFC 293

Sean Strickland after the weight cut (left) Strickland before the weight cut (right) (via Imago)

Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya have never missed weight in their career. However, that doesn’t mean it is an easy task. In the ESPN weigh-in interview, Strickland appeared drained and needed proper hydration.

Daniel Cormier and Laura Sanko shelved up the interview with the title challenger after seeing Strickland exhausted. When John Gooden asked Strickland a question, he could not hear it. It is presumed to be a side effect of weight cutting. Cormier, who has himself experienced weight-cutting effects, immediately shortened the interview. Sanko advised Strickland to hydrate as soon as possible. Even though tired, Strickland signed off the interview saying, “I’m gonna kill the Chinaman for you.”

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It was the first time that people saw Strickland visibly drained. Strickland, who fought at welterweight prior, moved up in weight after a motorcycle accident. One reason for the exhaustion might be being in Australia for the first time. Islam Makhachev aslo faced a similar ordeal at UFC 284 against Alexander Volkanovski.

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Extreme weight cutting is injurious to health. Some fighters have been clamoring for fighting at natural weights. Even Khabib Nurmagomedov faced a life-threatening ailment due to his weight cutting. Furthermore, the main reason for weight cutting is to gain a size advantage inside the octagon or ring.

Related: “It would be better if it is South Africa,” Israel Adesanya vows to ‘whoop’ Dricus Du Plessis’ in ‘his own country’ after failing to fight at UFC 293

It was Manel Kape, not Sean Strickland, who got on Israel Adesanya’s nerves

Israel Adesanya and Manel Kape
Israel Adesanya and Manel Kape (Image via Imago)

UFC 293 was deemed a success thanks to the outspoken remarks of Sean Strickland and the interaction he had with Israel Adesanya. Interestingly enough, Manel Kape did what Sean Strickland couldn’t. Kape forced Adesanya to confront him.

Kape’s courage needs to be noted. He was seated amidst Adesanya and his fellow heavyweight friends. But that did not stop him from telling the middleweight champion to be seated where he was. Kape’s outburst on Kai Kara-France put to notice the hypocrisy of City Kickboxing. Adesanya and Eugene Bareman were on Dricus Du Plessis‘ throat for withdrawing due to injury. Kara-France did the same, and the hypocrisy was evident.

Kape is a dark horse in the flyweight division. Moreover, he is the former Rizin bantamweight champion and the most accomplished Portuguese MMA fighter ever. Kape’s opponent at UFC 293 is a short-notice replacement, Felipe dos Santos.

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