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Israel Adesanya reflects on Sean Strickland’s Australian fan following at UFC 293: ‘They’re racists’

Israel Adesanya thinks Sean Strickland’s fans are just a bunch of racists — the ones in Australia anyway. Perhaps…

Israel Adesanya thinks Sean Strickland’s fans are just a bunch of racists — the ones in Australia anyway.

Perhaps the only thing more surprising than Strickland’s dominant five-round showing against ‘The Last Stylebender’ at UFC 293 was the overwhelming amount of support that ‘Tarzan’ received ahead of their unlikely title tilt. Dawning a Crocodile Dundee-style hat and a “for the people” t-shirt, Strickland captured the hearts of Aussies.

It was a frustrating realization for Adesanya who lives in New Zealand — a hop, skip, and a jump away from the land of Oz.

Looking back on Strickland’s unlikely fan following ahead of their September clash, Israel Adesanya labeled the former champ’s supporters in the country a bunch of racists before taking a dig at the outspoken star’s abbreviated title run.

“Nah, they’re racists,” Adesanya told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “I think it was just me, them, it wasn’t my week. It was just him. He knows how to pander. He’s a great politician, I’ll put it that way. It was just his week, his moment to shine, and what a reign!”

An interesting take from the man who once questioned, “Who the f*ck is this cracker?” in reference to current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.

Israel Adesanya unleashes some more on Dricus Du Plessis pic.twitter.com/VjdGcFmM8P

— MMA Mania (@mmamania) April 27, 2023

Israel Adesanya vs. Dricus Du Plessis likely for the UFC’s return to The Land Down Under

Israel Adesanya made it clear that he intends on evening the series with Sean Strickland sometime down the line. But first, he’s expected to square off with the “cracker” in a long-awaited title clash later this year.

Following a heated exchange at UFC 290, Adesanya and DDP were on an undeniable collision course until Strickland disrupted those plans with his shocking upset of the ‘Stylebender’ late last year.

Since then, ‘Tarzan’ has surrendered the middleweight strap to Du Plessis, once again putting him on a path that leads directly toward the division’s only two-time titleholder.

When and where that takes place is yet to be determined, but the promotion’s return to Perth, Australia for UFC 305 on August 18 is heavily rumored to host the 185-pound grudge match.

Check out Adesanya’s full appearance on The MMA Hour below:

Israel Adesanya eyes rematch with UFC rival Sean Strickland, mocks title loss again: ‘What a reign’

Israel Adesanya claims a title rematch with one-time foe, Sean Strickland will come round his direction again – and…

Israel Adesanya claims a title rematch with one-time foe, Sean Strickland will come round his direction again – and remains confident of avenging the defeat, however, still took time to once more mock the championship run of the former, which ended last month at UFC 297.

Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion, has been sidelined since he fought Strickland atop UFC 293 back in September of last year, dropping a stunning upset decision shutout loss defeat to the Xtreme Couture staple in Sydney, Australia.

Promising a lengthy hiatus from the Octagon in the midst of his second middleweight championship loss in the space of a calendar year, Adesanya has made a significant u-turn – claiming he will fight sooner than expected.

And linked with a potential main event slot atop UFC 300 in April, Adesanya claimed he accepted a bout agreement to fight Pretoria rival, Dricus du Plessis in a title grudge match on the card, however, boldly claimed the South African reneged on the clash.

Israel Adesanya eyes title rematch with Sean Strickland

Still hoping to secure a fight with the newly-minted champion later this year, Adesanya revealed that he still wants to fight Strickland in a rematch before calling time on his career – claiming he just wasn’t supposed to win in their UFC 293 showcase.

“I look to the next fight, never – I look ahead, like a little peek at the future,” Israel Adesanya told Theo Von during an appearance on This Past Weekend. “But I don’t try to focus on it. And I just know the (Sean) Strickland fight will come back around, and I’m in a good place right now health wise, mentally, and I know exactly what happend in that fight, that just wasn’t for me.”

“He’s (Strickland) a great fighter,” Israel Adesanya continued. “He’s also a good champion – what a reign. I mean, he did what he did. Even the way he beat me was spectacular, it was his moment.”

Would you like to see Israel Adesanya rematch Sean Strickland this year?

Israel Adesanya claims coach prevented him from going out on his shield against Sean Strickland: ‘I wanted to’

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has claimed his corner and head coach, Eugene Bareman prevented him from…

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has claimed his corner and head coach, Eugene Bareman prevented him from going out on his shield against Sean Strickland at UFC 293 back in September, despite his demands.

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, has been sidelined from the Octagon since that shocking upset loss to Strickland back in September in Australia, dropping his middleweight crown for the second time in the space of a year in the shocking upset blemish.

Israel Adesanya reflects on UFC 293 loss

Outpointed comfortably by massive betting underdog, Strickland over the course of five rounds, Adesanya claims despite his intentions, head coach, Bareman prevented him from standing and trading with the former in the fifth and final round of their UFC 293 clash, and effectively, going out on his shield.

“I never lost hope, I went back to the corner, and I was like, ‘Right, we ‘go’ this round, we must ‘go’ this round.’” Israel Adesanya told Teddy Atlas during a recent interview. “So, I was – even like when I asked Eugene (Bareman) in the fifth round, like, ‘Is this the fifth round?’ And he said, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, right, and I said, ‘Should I just should I just go out there and go?’”

“I wanted to,” Israel Adesanya explained. “Like, kind of like, ‘F*ck it, let’s go.’ Like if I die, I die, like, go out on my shield.” (H/T MMA News)

Linked with a potential return to the Octagon in the coming months after laughing off initial claims he would not fight until 2027, former two-time middleweight best, Adesanya appears to have put on some significant muscle mass since his loss to Strickland.

And the recent uptake on mass has led to mass speculation across social media that Adesanya is gearing up for a trilogy rubber match with two-time Octagon foe, Alex Pereira in a bid to become the undisputed light heavyweight champion.

Who do you expect Israel Adesanya to fight in his UFC comeback?

Upset of the Year – LowKick MMA Awards 2023

Our only unanimous category across the staff this year at LowKick MMA comes in the form of the ‘Upset…

Our only unanimous category across the staff this year at LowKick MMA comes in the form of the ‘Upset of the Year’ award — with each member of staff nomination, in the form of newly-minted undisputed middleweight champion, Sean Strickland’s stunning unanimous decision shutout win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 back in September.

Landing his second award from LowKick MMA this year, outspoken middleweight kingpin, Strickland also netted our ‘Fighter of the Year’ accolade — beating out fellow champions, Leon Edwards, and Islam Makhachev, as well as incoming foe, Dricus du Plessis to the award.

And following his spectacular decision win over City Kickboxing star and monumental betting favorite, Adesanya back in September in Oceania, Strickland has been unanimously voted as having landed the ‘Upset of the Year’ in the LowKick MMA 2023 awards.

Upset of the Year – Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Sean Strickland – UFC 293 – (9 votes)

Judged to have nothing more than a puncher’s chance against a far more seasoned and dynamic striking veteran as two-time middleweight pacesetter, Adesanya in there UFC 293 title collision — following Julianna Peña’s stunning upset over Amanda Nunes two years ago, Strickland turned in a victory to rival such an upset success.

Riding a streak of two straight wins over European talents, Nassourdine Imavov, and then Abusupiyan Magomedov into an impromptu title fight with Nigerian-Kiwi striker, Adesanya, it proved right-place-right-time for Strickland — who replaced an injury-stricken du Plessis in the middleweight title frame.

And travelling to Sydney, Australia to take on Adesanya — Strickland’s involvement in the UFC 293 headliner was briefly thrown into jeopardy, after engaging in a physical altercation with an Australian fan during fight week whilst travelling the country with his girlfriend.

Come fight night, a lazar-focused Strickland allowed Adesanya zero space and time to setup any real significant offense, showing early of things to come throughout their five round headliner ‘Down Under’ — finding the former’s chin with a massive straight right, and dropping him to his knees, almost resulting in what would’ve come as a shocking upset finish.

Pushing the pace against an all-out-of-ideas Adesanya for the remainder of the bout, Strickland landed the undisputed middleweight crown — in what will go down as one of the most shocking upset victories in the antiquity of the Octagon.

And fast booking his return to action in a bid to launch his first successful middleweight title defense, Strickland travels to Canada next month to headline UFC 297 — taking on the previously mentioned South African contender, du Plessis in a heated grudge match between the two.

Full List Of The LowKick MMA 2023 Upset Of The Year Votes:

Ross Markey: Sean Strickland
Ian Shutts: Sean Strickland
Murdo Todd: Sean Strickland
Craig Pekios: Sean Strickland
Makoa Goble: Sean Strickland
Tony King: Sean Strickland
Red Pill MMA: Sean Strickland
Michael Owens: Sean Strickland
Danny Podolsky: Sean Strickland

Israel Adesanya issues chilling warning to UFC rivals ahead of return: ‘When I come back, run for the hills”

Former two-time undisputed middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has urged his divisional peers to “run for the hills” when he returns to the Octagon – planning a definite hiatus from the UFC following his championship defeat last month.

Adesanya,…

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, has been sidelined from the Octagon since headlining UFC 293 back in September, suffering a unanimous decision loss to massive underdog, Sean Strickland in the Octagon’s return to Sydney, Australia.

Linked with an immediate title fight return against the outspoken Covina native, Adesanya is set to be passed over, however, with UFC CEO, Dana White confirming how incoming UFC 294 co-headliners, Khamzat Chimaev and Kamaru Usman will battle to determine the next title challenger to Strickland’s throne next weekend in the Middle East.

Despite being initially pegged to fight Strickland in his comeback, City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya has instead confirmed his plans to take an extended hiatus away from combat sports competition, insisting it will be a long time before fans can see him compete once again under the UFC banner.

“Now I’m gonna take time to look after myself,” Israel Adesanya told The Rock podcast during a recent appearance. “And, I’m not gonna fight for a long time. I’m definitely not gonna retire, ‘cause, you know me, I’m not leaving like that. But, if I did [retire], I’m fine. I don’t need to prove anything else. But, I know what I can do, I know what I can change in my lifestyle, to make my body adapt to where I need to be.”

Israel Adesanya issues stark warning to UFC rivals

And when he does return to the Octagon, the Nigerian-Kiwi striker has claimed opponents of his would be wise to avoid a matchup, encouraging them to “run for the hills” when he makes a return.

“I’m just gonna take my time (and), heal,” Israel Adesanya explained. “And then, when I come back, f*cking run for the hills.”

Who would you like to see Israel Adesanya fight in his UFC comeback?

Israel Adesanya shuts down retirement talk, plans lenghty UFC hiatus: ‘I’m not gonna fight for a long time’

Former two-time undisputed UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya has admitted that while he’s aware he seems to be on the “back-end” of his professional career, he has no plans to call time on his illustrious career, but intends to take a definite and lengthy hiatus from active competition. Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, […]

Adesanya, a former two-time undisputed middleweight titleholder, most recently headlined UFC 293 last month in Syndey, Australia, suffering his second championship fight loss in the space of 11 months – in the form of a shocking unanimous decision loss to significant underdog, Sean Strickland.

And yet to book his return to the Octagon in the time since, City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya, who faces a court appearance in January in the wake of an alleged drunk driving incident in Auckland – three weeks prior to his championship fight with Strickland, has been backed to avenge a loss to the former in his return to the sport.

Expected to miss out on an immediate rematch with Strickland, however, Adesanya will lay in wait as UFC 294 co-headliners, Khamzat Chimaev and former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman have been backed by UFC leader, Dana White to land a title fight with a win in Abu Dhabi.

Israel Adesanya confirms plans for lengthy layoff from the UFC after title loss

And whilst maintaining he would not be calling time on his storied mixed martial arts career off the back of his loss to Strickland, Adesanya revealed he plans to take a long hiatus away from the Octagon off the back of his UFC 293 title fight defeat.

Do you think Israel Adesanya should take time away from the Octagon?