Tag: Israel Adesanya

Whilst Israel Adesanya has promised to make his pay-per-view return against Sean Strickland look “easy” next month at UFC 293, the latter has vowed to clinch the title from the Nigerian-Kiwi, labelling him a “Chinese sl*t” once more.

Headlining his first flagship event for the organization, hugely-outspoken contender, Strickland, whom currently holds the number four rank in the official middleweight division, will take on two-time and incumbent gold holder, Adesanya in the main event of UFC 293, challenging for gold.

Riding a two-fight winning run into his premiere title challenger, Covina native, Strickland landed a unanimous decision win over the highly-touted, Nassourdine Imavov back in January in an impromptu pairing at the light heavyweight limit.

And back in July, Strickland earned his title siege against Adesanya courtesy of a second round TKO win over Abusupiyan Magomedov – and fortuning off a lingering injury which prevented number one contender, Dricus du Plessis from competing in September. 

Sean Strickland begins to needle at Israel Adesanya ahead of UFC 293

Nevertheless, Strickland has already ramped up his verbal onslaught against Adesanya, labelling him a “Chinese sl*t” once more – before laying out plans to bring the title back with him to the United States.

“I’m fighting Izzy (Israel Adesanya) the Chinese man, you guys,” Sean Strickland said. “And here’s the thing, I’ve always called Izzy the Chinese champion, but Izzy’s not the Chinese champion, Izzy is the modern-day man. Izzy is the Chinese sl*t.”

“He sold himself for a dollar,” Sean Strickland explained. “And you guys, we’re gonna bring that belt back to America. Let’s f*cking go.” 

Sean Strickland has kicked off the build up to #UFC293 pic.twitter.com/a5CAGCPHMn

— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) August 29, 2023

Just yesterday, Adesanya also predicted his own victory over Strickland, claiming he would actually flash the camera and broadcast a pair of French tip fingernails after he vowed to KO the outspoken challenger when they share the Octagon in Sydney, Australia. 

Can Sean Strickland upset the odds and defeat Israel Adesanya at UFC 293?

Israel Adesanya has plans to show off a fresh set of French tipped fingernails following a predicted win over Sean Strickland at UFC 293 next month – promising to knock out the outspoken Clovis native to boot.

Adesanya, the incumbent and two-time undisputed middleweight champion, headlines UFC 293 in two weeks’ time, taking on surging number four ranked division challenger, Strickland in a return to Sydney, Australia for the Octagon.

Sidelined since he headlined UFC 287 back in April, on that occasion, Adesanya successfully regained the middleweight throne with a spectacular knockout win over arch-rival and common-foe, Alex Pereira.

And earning his first title shot under the banner of the UFC since recovering from his own KO loss to Pereira, Strickland has since racked up two wins in his last three, including a decision victory over Nassourdine Imavov, and a July knockout win over Abusupiyan Magomedov.

Israel Adesanya already has a celebration in mind after a UFC 293 win

Expected to be treated with a hurl of insults from the polarizing Strickland in the build-up to their UFC 293 title showing, Adesanya has no qualms about painting his nails – and then showing them off to the broadcast if he follows through on his prediction of a knockout win.

“He’s (Sean Strickland) an idiot,” Israel Adesanya told MMA Fighting. “I’m not going to lose to an idiot. He says he’s not going to lose to a guy that jerks off to cartoons or paint his nails. Well, I’m going to paint my nails for that fight and I’m going to knock him out with my painted nails.”

“I’ve had that vision of having my nails painted, knocking him out and just showing my nails to the camera like, look, with my frosted tips, I knocked his b*tch ass out,” Israel Adesanya explained. 

Can Israel Adesanya land a KO win over Sean Strickland next month?

Again predicting an easy title defense against incoming championship challenger, Sean Strickland next month in their UFC 293 headlining clash, undisputed middleweight best, Israel Adesanya has claimed he will land a “spectacular” victory over the former when they meet.

Adesanya, a two-time and current undisputed middleweight champion under the banner of the UFC, is slated to make his second Octagon walk of the year next month at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia – taking on Strickland in his first defense of his second reign atop the division.

Earlier this year, Adesanya returned to the winning ways for the first time at the middleweight limit in his professional mixed martial arts career, stopping common-foe, Alex Pereira with a thunderous second round KO in April in Miami, Florida.

Israel Adesanya vows to take Sean Strickland’s head at UFC 293

And drawing Strickland next month as he attempts to maintain his undefeated record when competing ‘Down Under’ with the UFC, Adesanya claimed he was motivated to turn in a one-sided victory over Strickland in Australia.

“What we’re working on as well, it’s definitely raised the bar,” Israel Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “The motivation is just taking his (Sean Strickland) head. It’s another guy to style against. Being in Sydney, six of us on the card, half the card is [City Kickboxing], so I have to close the show spectacularly.” (Transcribed by Sportskeeda)

Furthermore, while many have predicted Strickland will have a definite upper hand on Adesanya in terms of any verbal sparring ahead of UFC 293, the City Kickboxing staple claims he is more than confident of holding his own on the mic with the outspoken Californian. 

“I’m a loud man when I need to be loud,” Israel Adesanya explained. “But, I’m very quiet and I’ll observe and he definitely has his own insecurities and whatnot. ‘Oh, I’m a man, riding my motorcycle with my boots and drink my beer.’ He wants to be that guy and with the machismo. I don’t need to prove I’m a man doing all that kind of sh*t. I’ll just be me and I’ll still f*ck you up.” 

Does Israel Adesanya retain his title at UFC 293 next month?

Predicting a one-sided victory over incoming title challenger, Sean Strickland at UFC 293 next month in Sydney, Australia, incumbent middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has claimed he will make the former his “b*tch” when they share the stage and October in September. 

Adesanya, the current and two-time undisputed middleweight champion, has been sidelined from the Octagon since he headlined UFC 287 back in April in Miami, Florida, defeating Brazilian knockout artist and common-foe, Alex Pereira with a thunderous second round KO. 

As for Strickland, the surging Californian headlined his two most recent Octagon walks – defeating Abusupiyan Magomedov with a second round TKO back in July, which followed a prior decision win over Nassourdine Imavov at the light heavyweight limit back in January.

Israel Adesanya claims he can verbally hold his own with Sean Strickland

And while fans expect a verbal onslaught from Strickland aimed toward Adesanya following a brief battle in the summer of last year, the City Kickboxing staple has plans to turn the tables firmly on the challenger.

“Nothing in particular that he’s (Sean Strickland) said has gotten to me,” Israel Adesanya told MMA Junkie. “But just his whole – any time he breathes he just says some idiotic things. I kind of want to show people what happens backstage, I want to show them on the main stage that he’s my b*tch.”

“I’m a loud man when I need to be loud,” Israel Adesanya explained. “But, I’m very quiet and I’ll observe and he definitely has his own insecurities and whatnot. ‘Oh, I’m a man, riding my motorcycle with my boots and drink my beer.’ He wants to be that guy and with the machismo. I don’t need to prove I’m a man doing all that kind of sh*t. I just be me and I’ll still f*ck you up.” 

Who wins at UFC 293, Israel Adesanya or Sean Strickland?