Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Sean Strickland tried to reclaim his title at UFC 312 this weekend (Sat., Feb. 8, 2025) as he rematches 185 kingpin Dricus Du Plessis from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
While doing media obligations to promote his fight, “Tarzan” was asked about his rival Israel Adesanya’s recent stoppage loss (watch it) to Nassourdine Imavov that went down this past weekend at UFC Saudi Arabia.
“At the end of the day, Izzy’s made his legacy,” Strickland told FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA. “He made his legacy. If you want to continue to fight, continue to fight. But you’ve done what you wanted to do. You don’t really have to prove anything. You’re a lasting name in the sport. You’ve chiseled your name in it, no shame. Getting older, it happens, you know?”
Strickland’s respect for Adesanya is a welcomed surprise as it would have been very easy to kick him while he’s down, you know, especially after all of the trash that they talked to each other before and after Strickland took the belt off of “The Last Stylebender.”
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 312 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN2/Disney+/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
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