Dana White remains perplexed by Israel Adesanya’s reaction following his loss at UFC 293. The UFC President is still in the dark about what exactly transpired that night.
As White recalls, he approached Adesanya in the octagon immediately after the fight and asked, “Are you OK?” Adesanya’s response was cryptic, simply stating, “I’ll talk to you later.” Even when they crossed paths backstage, Adesanya was tight-lipped, revealing no more than he had to. It was an odd situation, to say the least.
Adesanya’s appearance backstage after the loss to Sean Strickland, which was a strong contender for “Upset of the Year,” left many puzzled. He offered only a brief statement to reporters before handing off the press conference to his coach, Eugene Bareman. Bareman advocated for an immediate rematch to rectify the errors made against Strickland.
Adesanya himself admitted, “I had a different plan for this, but again, life throws curveballs at you. Win or lose, I wasn’t going to say much anyway, but right now, I lost tonight to the better man on the night. I just want to go and be with people who care about me — my team, and they’re waiting for me, so I’m going to do that.”
The odds were stacked against Strickland, with some pegging him as a 7-1 underdog in the fight against Adesanya. Nevertheless, after five rounds of dominating “The Last Stylebender,” Strickland emerged victorious with unanimous scorecards of 49-46.
In the immediate aftermath of this shocking upset, White suggested that an immediate rematch between Strickland and Adesanya was a strong possibility. He saw it as an intriguing option, considering Adesanya’s upcoming fight with Alex Pereira and the fact that he might have underestimated Strickland. However, White couldn’t provide definitive answers, emphasizing that only Israel Adesanya held the key to these questions.
That was until Adesanya’s brief interaction with the press, which left more questions than answers about his performance that night. Nevertheless, White disputed claims that he had already confirmed Strickland vs. Adesanya 2.
White seemed visibly frustrated when addressing this issue, saying, “I think if you remember that night, people said, ‘What do you think, you think rematch?’ I said, ‘Yeah, the rematch sounds great.'” He then pointed out the misleading reports circulating in the media, clarifying that he had never definitively stated they were going to proceed with the rematch. He stressed that there were plenty of options on the table, including potential matchups with Jared Cannonier, Dricus du Plessis, and a highly anticipated bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Paulo Costa for a title shot. While Adesanya’s future remains uncertain, White remains open to the possibility of a rematch but emphasized that no decisions have been made yet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UFC 293 Loss
What happened to Israel Adesanya at UFC 293?
Dana White, the UFC President, is still uncertain about Adesanya’s reaction to his loss at UFC 293. Adesanya made a brief statement and left many questions unanswered.
Did Dana White suggest an immediate rematch between Strickland and Adesanya?
Yes, Dana White indicated that an immediate rematch between Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya was a strong possibility. He saw it as an intriguing option, given Adesanya’s upcoming fight with Alex Pereira and the shocking upset.
What was Adesanya’s response to his loss at UFC 293?
Israel Adesanya admitted that he had a different plan but acknowledged that he lost to the better fighter that night. He opted not to say much more and wanted to be with his team.
Were there other potential matchups discussed for Adesanya?
Yes, there were several other potential matchups mentioned, including fights with Jared Cannonier, Dricus du Plessis, and the winner of the Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa bout. Dana White emphasized that no decisions had been made regarding Adesanya’s future fights.
Did Dana White confirm a rematch between Strickland and Adesanya?
No, Dana White clarified that despite reports suggesting otherwise, he had not definitively confirmed a rematch between Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya. He stressed that there were multiple options to consider.
More about UFC 293 Loss
- Israel Adesanya’s Loss at UFC 293
- Dana White’s Comments on Rematch
- Israel Adesanya’s Post-Fight Statement
- Potential Matchup Options for Adesanya
