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Title: Morning Report: Michael Bisping Believes Dricus Du Plessis Would Have Bested Israel Adesanya at UFC 293
UFC 293 didn’t go as planned for Israel Adesanya, known as “The Last Stylebender.” His return to Australia was anticipated as an opportunity to add another highlight to his impressive career. However, Sean Strickland, known as “Tarzan,” had different intentions.
Strickland, riding a two-fight winning streak, brought his A-game to the octagon, defending against Adesanya’s attacks for a full 25 minutes. The result? A unanimous decision win for Strickland. Interestingly, this spot was initially meant for South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis, the No. 1 contender, who secured his position with a stunning TKO victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290. Unfortunately, a lingering foot injury kept Du Plessis from taking the fight.
Former UFC champion and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping believes that if Du Plessis had fought that night, he could have beaten the Adesanya who showed up. Bisping acknowledges Strickland’s victory but points out that Adesanya didn’t perform at his best, speculating that factors like workload and pressure might have contributed.
While Strickland is now the champ, he won’t lack challengers, given his impressive five-fight run since July 2022. Adesanya’s frequent fighting schedule has been debated as a possible factor in his loss, but Bisping, known for his active fighting days, refrained from piling on, simply noting that Adesanya didn’t deliver on fight night.
The middleweight division is now brimming with possibilities, with fans still hoping to see a showdown between Adesanya and Du Plessis. It’s a missed opportunity, but the future remains intriguing for these fighters.
In other news, there are updates on various topics, including Chael Sonnen’s take on Strickland vs. Adesanya 2, reactions from the MMA community, and more.
The middleweight division is undoubtedly in flux, and we’ll have to wait and see what exciting matchups lie ahead. Stay tuned for more updates!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UFC 293 Recap
Q: What happened at UFC 293?
A: At UFC 293, Israel Adesanya faced Sean Strickland. Strickland secured a unanimous decision victory, but it was originally expected to be Dricus Du Plessis in that spot. Michael Bisping believes Du Plessis could have won had he fought that night.
Q: Why didn’t Dricus Du Plessis fight at UFC 293?
A: Du Plessis had earned the No. 1 contender status with a big win in July but couldn’t compete due to a lingering foot injury.
Q: What is Michael Bisping’s opinion on the fight?
A: Michael Bisping thinks that if Dricus Du Plessis had fought Adesanya that night, he could have beaten the version of Adesanya who showed up, though he acknowledges Sean Strickland’s victory.
Q: How active has Sean Strickland been in the middleweight division?
A: Sean Strickland has been incredibly active, fighting five times since July 2022, which contributed to his success in the division.
Q: Was Israel Adesanya’s frequent fighting schedule a factor in his loss?
A: While some speculate that Adesanya’s frequent fights may have played a role, Michael Bisping didn’t directly attribute it to his loss but noted that Adesanya didn’t perform at his best.
Q: What’s the future of the middleweight division in the UFC?
A: The middleweight division is brimming with possibilities, and fans are still hopeful for a matchup between Adesanya and Du Plessis, though it remains to be seen what exciting matchups lie ahead in the division.
More about UFC 293 Recap
- UFC 293 Recap on MMA Mania
- Dricus Du Plessis’ Victory at UFC 290 on Sporting News
- Sean Strickland’s Performance on UFC Official Website
- Michael Bisping’s YouTube Channel
