Israel Adesanya faces a fresh crop of challengers eager to take him on.
UFC 290 witnessed Adesanya’s magic. As the current two-time middleweight champion of UFC, his prophesied triumph over Dricus Du Plessis last month became reality in an astonishing way. During his bout with ex-champion Robert Whittaker, Du Plessis, one of South Africa’s best fighters, ended the match with a swift jab and ground-and-pound follow-up punches, taking everyone aback and establishing himself as the top contender. Regrettably, “Stillknocks” sustained a foot injury, hindering his ability to fight swiftly again, forcing a postponement of the title fight that was slated for UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia on September 9.
Adesanya has been open and fervent in his yearning to defeat Du Plessis. The future of the match-up with “The Last Stylebender” is uncertain, following a miraculous alignment of events. Nevertheless, it’s a fight he continues to want, seeing it as a monumental event overall.
“We’ll find out if he turns up, but equally, I’ll gauge how I’m feeling,” Adesanya expressed to MMA Junkie. “I do crave that fight. I genuinely believe it will become one of the most significant fights in sports history. I mean it when I say, in history. I’ll evaluate my feelings as time doesn’t halt for anyone.”
Du Plessis’ inability to meet the tight schedule opened the door for fellow top-ranked contender Sean Strickland. Just last year, he was one victory short of his initial gold opportunity, but he managed to bounce back from two in-octagon disappointments with robust victories over Nassourdine Imavov and Abus Magomedov. His persistent activity and fresh triumphs have granted him a championship shot.
Adesanya and Strickland have already clashed once during the UFC 276 pre-fight press conference, and now that they’re set to collide, pandemonium is anticipated in the next chapter of this saga.
Adesanya’s candid behind-the-scenes remarks about Strickland reveal his scorn. “He’s like that fool in the back of the class who simply wants to blather over you. Nothing he says bothers me; his idiotic words do. I aim to demonstrate to the public what transpires backstage, on the main stage, that he’s my servant,” Adesanya boldly stated.
Strickland, currently a +300 underdog, is predicted to be an uncomplicated hurdle for the champion. Adesanya feels that Strickland is being underrated but is still confident about another dominant title defense.
“I’m on a mission to defeat this man. He’s getting knocked out. I respect him but I know who I am and where I stand,” Adesanya pronounced.
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Fight Announcements:
- Kevin Jousset (8-2) vs. Kiefer Crosbie (10-3); UFC 293, Sept. 9
- Joe Pyfer (11-2) vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-5); UFC Vegas 80, Oct. 7
- Darren Elkins (27-11) vs. T.J. Brown (17-10); UFC Vegas 81, Oct. 14
- Nikolas Motta (13-5) vs. Trey Ogden (16-6); UFC Vegas 82, Nov. 18
- Amanda Ribas (11-4) vs. Luana Pinheiro (11-1); UFC Vegas 82, Nov. 18
FINAL WORDS
Examining the Adesanya vs. Strickland timeline, it seems the Du Plessis opportunity loss has been exaggerated. It’s an intriguing time, indeed.
Enjoy your weekend, and thanks for tuning in! And don’t forget to cast your vote on whether Israel Adesanya will remain the UFC middleweight champion a year from now.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword Israel Adesanya
What is Israel Adesanya’s desire regarding Dricus Du Plessis?
Adesanya has been vocal about his eagerness to fight Du Plessis, and he believes that this matchup would be one of the most important fights in sporting history. Despite some uncertainties and delays, Adesanya remains keen on making the fight happen.
Who will be Adesanya’s next opponent?
Adesanya’s next opponent will be Sean Strickland, a top-ranked contender who has recently earned a chance at the championship status. Adesanya already had a pre-fight press conference with Strickland, and the fight is expected to be intense.
What are Adesanya’s thoughts on Sean Strickland?
Adesanya has expressed his dislike for Strickland’s public persona, calling him soft and like “an idiot in the back of the class.” Despite this, Adesanya does not take Strickland lightly and has predicted a knockout in their upcoming fight.
What’s happening with Dricus Du Plessis’ title shot?
Du Plessis’ inability to make the turnaround date led to Sean Strickland’s opportunity for a title shot. While Adesanya is still interested in fighting Du Plessis, the timing and details have not yet aligned.
Is Strickland considered a challenging opponent for Adesanya?
While Strickland is considered a relatively easy stepping stone for the champion and is the betting underdog, Adesanya believes he deserves more credit. He acknowledges Strickland’s potential danger but envisions another one-sided title defense.
What’s the latest news on other fighters and events?
The text also mentions various other topics, including Max Holloway and the Korean Zombie setting up for a main event, Francis Ngannou’s ranking status, Mayra Bueno Silva’s and Walt Harris’ suspensions, and several fight announcements for upcoming UFC events.
More about fokus keyword Israel Adesanya
- Israel Adesanya’s Official UFC Profile
- UFC’s Official Site
- MMA Junkie
- Sean Strickland’s UFC Profile
- UFC 293 Event Details
- Dricus Du Plessis’s UFC Profile
- UFC Rankings
