MMA Fighter Sean Strickland defeated Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 to claim the middleweight title, with his teammate Chris Curtis highlighting Strickland’s unusual fighting style and ability to defy expectations.
Chris Curtis, an MMA fighter, acknowledges his teammate Sean Strickland’s impressive performance in a recent championship event. Strickland outplayed Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, attaining the middleweight title through a conquering performance which surprised even his greatest critics. Not only did Strickland hold his own against “The Last Stylebender,” Adesanya, but he outfought him with ease and secured a decisive victory.
While Adesanya’s coach, Eugene Bareman, suggested that his fighter underperformed that night, Curtis, on the other hand, argued that everyone is caught off guard the first time they square off with Strickland. “If you watch Sean spar anybody, it goes very similar to that”, said Curtis. He pointed out that all first-timers are left confused after their rounds with Strickland due to his non-conventional combat style. Consequently, Curtis asserted that the popular assessments of Adesanya looking off are untrue.
Strickland’s unique fighting style saw him winning the middleweight title at UFC 293, after injuries prevented No. 1 contender Dricus Du Plessis from accepting the fight. Despite not being the first choice for the title fight, Strickland grabbed the opportunity and excelled in the ring. Curtis, who is also a training partner of Strickland’s at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, expressed his surprise at the ease with which Strickland attained the victory.
Notably, Strickland’s training placed a heavy emphasis on checking Adesanya’s low kicks and hand fighting. Curtis commended Danny Davis Jr., Strickland’s coach, for his excellent training strategies. He also mentioned that wrestling was part of the game plan but surprisingly didn’t feature during the fight. In the end, Strickland didn’t just win; he almost claimed the victory in the first round itself, stunning Curtis and other spectators.