Morning Report | Israel Adesanya wants rematch with Sean Strickland: ‘I’ve gotta get some get back’

Israel Adesanya desires one other crack at Sean Strickland.

Earlier this yr, Adesanya misplaced his third battle in a row, getting knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov in the primary occasion of UFC Saudi Arabia. It’s a troublesome run for the previous middleweight champion, and afterward, there was hypothesis about whether or not “The Final Stylebender” would possibly grasp up the gloves for good. However after a number of months off to recuperate, Adesanya says he’s not going wherever, and even has his sights set on his subsequent opponent.

“I didn’t spar after my final battle,” Adesanya stated on his YouTube channel. “I did so nicely within the battle, I did so nicely within the camp, and I didn’t get the outcome that I wished, however I used to be nonetheless happy with myself. I’m nonetheless happy with the way in which I labored. So then I didn’t spar as a result of I simply taken care of my mind. Then, after I was in Miami just lately watching [Alexander Volkanovski] get his belt again, then I sparred with Kamaru Usman for the primary time in months. And I knew as soon as I sparred it will be like, ‘Man, I’ve gotta battle!’

“So for me now, I instructed my coach already, it’s time. I simply knew. And I’ve a sense who I wish to battle. You’ll like this one: I’ve gotta get some get again. Strickland. I’m going to get it again.”

In 2023, Adesanya lastly defeated his longtime foe Alex Pereira, knocking him out at UFC 287 to reclaim the middleweight title. And with Pereira shifting as much as gentle heavyweight afterward, it seemed like Adesanya could possibly be about to embark on one other sustained title run atop the middleweight division. Besides no one instructed Strickland that.

Strickland stepped in to face Adesanya in the primary occasion of UFC 293 — after Dricus du Plessis was unable to make the timeline — and delivered one of the vital surprising upsets in UFC historical past, dominating Adesanya for 25 minutes to assert the middleweight belt. And whereas Adensaya takes nothing away from that efficiency by Strickland, he additionally desires to show that was an aberration.

“He beat me truthful and sq. in Sydney,” Adesanya stated. “5 – Nil. Simply whooped my ass, badly. Once more, that was one of many issues that made me notice I have to decelerate in my exercise. I used to be combating 3-4 occasions a yr as champion. So I wish to pull again now, as a result of I’m older, I’m doing issues completely different.

“I don’t wish to make excuses, as a result of he beat me, however I simply wish to present him if he beat me at my finest. So this time I’m going to come back at him appropriate.

“All the pieces is finished since then. As a result of I used to get bullied rather a lot as a child. So he’s an embodiment of that, in a way, as a result of he attacked me, the internal youngster. So i simply wish to defend him and get some get again for him.”

Strickland has not competed since dropping his personal rematch with middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 in February.

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An Izzy-Strickland rematch does type of make sense, but additionally, that’s two High 5 guys combating one another with no hope of a title shot. Kinda would moderately see them each give the brand new crop of contenders a shot to maneuver up. But when it occurs, I get it.

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