Sean Strickland won the middleweight title in a unanimous decision over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, marking his 20th fight for the UFC and one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.
Sean Strickland is hailed as the world’s No. 1 middleweight fighter, a high rank that is supported by substantial data. This victorious ranking became heftily palpable in the UFC 293 main event, where he faced off with Israel Adesanya in an engrossing match. Displaying both strategy and strength, Strickland emerged a triumphant victor in the middleweight title fight, achieving one of MMA’s most stunning upsets. The judges unequivocally scored in favor of Strickland, offering him similarly well-earned 49-46 scores for a unanimous decision.
The epic battle was held in Sydney, Australia and the detailed scorecard officially documenting Strickland’s win was released to the public following the fight. The anticipation in the ring was palpable from the onset, but Strickland set the tone early by dealing Adesanya a significant blow in the first round. The pressure continued to mount, with Adesanya struggling to recover and regain his footing throughout the match’s 20 minute span. Hopes of Adesanya pulling out a last-minute finish loomed in the final round, but it simply was not to be realized. Strickland’s victorious celebration kicked off the second the final second ebbed away from the clock.
The unanimous verdict stood unchallenged, with all three judges, Eric Colon, David Lethaby, and Clemens Werner, nodding in agreement. In what marked his 20th fight for the promotion, Strickland officially claimed the title of UFC Champion. Adesanya, on the other hand, faced the loss of the middleweight title for the second time in a short span of 10 months. Despite its unforeseen outcome, the event stirred up some discourse, prompting a poll questioning where Strickland’s UFC 293 victory would rank among UFC’s greatest upsets.