Sean Strickland and UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya share a profound mutual dislike for each other.
Their intense animosity is a central element that led to Strickland stepping in to face Adesanya at UFC 293, following Dricus Du Plessis’ withdrawal.
Strickland’s disdain for Adesanya stems from various aspects, including Adesanya’s choice to wear nail polish and his interest in anime, all contributing to Strickland’s perception of him as an untrustworthy individual.
Adesanya, on the other hand, seizes every opportunity to provoke Strickland, recently announcing that he would enter their bout wearing nail polish and discussing the challenges he anticipates in facing Strickland in an interview.
When asked about the level of difficulty he expects from Sean Strickland as an opponent, Israel Adesanya expressed confidence in his ability to defeat him.
He didn’t consider Strickland to be an exceedingly challenging adversary, especially after Strickland’s losses to Pereira.
However, Adesanya stressed the importance of not underestimating or overestimating his opponent and emphasized the need to avoid making mistakes during their fight.
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The showdown between Adesanya and Strickland is set to take place on September 10 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park, Australia, with the Middleweight Championship at stake.
Dricus Du Plessis, scheduled to face Adesanya, withdrew due to a shoulder injury.
Adesanya, known for his activity in the UFC, pushed for a match with the #6 ranked middleweight, Sean Strickland, at UFC 293 instead of delaying the fight, motivated in part by their ongoing feud.
The intense animosity between these fighters has generated substantial anticipation among fans.
While most analysts predict Adesanya’s victory, Strickland has an opportunity to make history by defeating him and etching his name in the record books.
The bitterness and rivalry between the two add an extra layer of intrigue to this high-profile matchup.