At the same time, a completely different battle was brewing in the middle division. In the July battle, the South African fighter Dricus Du Plessis sensationally won, whose surprising win over Robert Whittaker should have meant the possibility of fighting for the title. Although immediately after the duel there was a staredown in the cage with the king of the division, Israel Adesanya (24-2 record), in the end fate wanted it completely differently. Due to a leg injury on the part of the native of Hatfield, South Africa, the title chance was seized by another order, namely the peculiar American puncher Sean Strickland (27-5), who is not afraid to go far for a sharp word.
He also confirmed this at a press conference that almost went awry. During it, he also alluded to his opponent’s past, which was also in the spirit of living in China. “I’m ready to make a sacrifice to the Gods to fight that fucking Chinese. I want to be like Bisping, who sacrificed an eye for the fight (practically blind in his right eye as a result of the kick). I’m ready to give whatever it takes because I’m not just fighting for America, I’m representing all of you zm*ds. In the cage, I will want to win the belt and bring pride back to the middle division,” said Strickland, who last beat Abusupian Magomedov.
The American is known for his brash personality. At the same time, it was not long ago that, for example, he showed a desire to kill someone in a cage. The statement shortly after the outbreak of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, which the native of California commented as follows: “Ukraine should kneel down and become Russia” also did not escape attention. He also shocked with sexist comments during the July gala. Adesanya’s upcoming opponent therefore has a simple explanation for this behaviour.
“I met this guy backstage a few times, but he was always quiet. He likes to show off in front of people, but then when he encounters a person, he doesn’t say anything. It’s not for nothing that his fans are looking forward to the press conference, because it’s the most fun part of the fight for Sean. It will be different in the cage,” the champion let himself be heard.
He rushes to the battlefield with a clear plan. “I want to knock him out. And I knock him out! It’s not ego or anything like that. It’s just one plus one equals two. It follows that I knock him out, as simple as that,” he outlined the possible ending of the match. And if the Nigerian manages to defend his title, the upcoming plans also go outside the cage. “There are bigger dreams than wrestling. It’s not just about belts or money. I also complete side missions and unlock other achievements,” says the native of Lagos, Nigeria mysteriously.
It is clear about the favorite, and that quite unambiguously. The bookmakers see Adesanya as a huge leader, the American’s journey to the title could be successful in the case of well-chosen tactics, for example going to the ground. “I got backstage info that Strickland has been wrestling a lot and will try to take Adesanya to the ground. I think “Izzy” and Volkanovski have the best distance management in the UFC. Adesanya is also an excellent counter puncher and the opponent’s pressure will suit him,” explains Patrik Kincl, champion of the Oktagon MMA organization, for Sport.cz.
It will be the feared Nigerian’s first title defense since regaining the championship belt in a rematch with Alex Pereira. Last year, it was precisely the Brazilian who created a sensation and deposed the seemingly unshakable king of the division back among the contenders for the title. “I have lost more than a title in my life. It was nothing,” thirty-four-year-old Adesanya downplays the situation.
The battle for the 84-kilogram division belt between Adesanya and Strickland will take place on Sunday, September 10 at UFC 293 at approximately 6:00 a.m. CEST. The main card, on which, among other things, the defeater of the Czech fighter David Dvořák, Angolan Manel Kape, will also be broadcast live by the Premier Sport station.
2023-09-09 04:19:09
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