In an exciting turn of events, UFC president Dana White has announced that Israel Adesanya, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, will defend his title against Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 293. This highly anticipated matchup is set to take place on September 9 in Sydney, Australia. Adesanya, currently ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings and No. 1 in the middleweight division, will face off against Strickland, ESPN’s No. 8 middleweight.
Originally, the UFC had different plans for the main event of UFC 293. Sources reveal that the promotion had hoped to pit Adesanya against the winner of a fight between his rival Robert Whittaker and Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 290 on July 8. However, Du Plessis stunned everyone by securing a TKO victory in the second round against Whittaker. This impressive win earned him a shot at the title, and a verbal confrontation between Adesanya and Du Plessis took place immediately after the fight.
The tension between Adesanya and Du Plessis stems from the latter’s claim that he would be the first “real” African champion. Du Plessis argued that champions like Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou were no longer based in Africa, while he still resides in South Africa. Adesanya took offense to these remarks. Unfortunately, Du Plessis sustained a foot injury during the Whittaker fight and will not be ready to fight by September 9.
Meet the New Challenger
Despite the setback, Adesanya expressed his desire to remain on the card close to home. As a result, Sean Strickland was chosen as his new opponent. The UFC had been planning this matchup for several weeks but had to wait for Strickland’s travel documents to be processed before making the official announcement.
Adesanya, a two-time UFC middleweight champion, boasts an impressive record of 24 wins and 2 losses. His most recent victory came in April at UFC 287, where he scored a second-round knockout against Alex Pereira. This win was a redemption for Adesanya after Pereira had previously defeated him via TKO to claim the middleweight belt.
Strickland, a 32-year-old fighter based in Las Vegas, has won two consecutive fights following a two-fight losing streak. His most recent performance was a second-round TKO against Abus Magomedov on July 1. Strickland has enjoyed success since transitioning to the middleweight division in 2020, winning seven out of his last nine fights.
The upcoming bout between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland promises to be an exhilarating clash of talents. Adesanya, the highly skilled and dominant middleweight champion, will defend his title against Strickland, a rising star with impressive wins under his belt. UFC fans can anticipate a thrilling showdown on September 9, as these two fighters step into the Octagon and showcase their skills in the quest for middleweight supremacy.
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