Sean Strickland, who stepped in as a replacement after Dricus Du Plessis‘s foot injury, defeated Israel Adesanya with a unanimous decision victory to become the new middleweight champion at UFC 293.
Sean Strickland delivered an impressive performance at UFC 293, becoming the new middleweight champion. The result was all the more stunning as he wasn’t initially scheduled to fight, filling in for Dricus Du Plessis, who had been sidelined due to a foot injury in September. Entering as an enormous underdog, Strickland surprised everyone when he managed to knock down Israel Adesanya in the first round, setting the tone for a relentless battering that lasted 25 minutes to secure a unanimous decision victory.
The score from all three judges was an unequivocal 49-46 in favor of Stickland, marking the crowning moment of a dramatic night. Amid the euphoria of victory, the adulating crowd couldn’t help but catch his sentiment, “Am I f******* dreaming?” Strickland exhorted, displaying his disbelief at the unexpected triumph. Contrary to the doubts he had about his own abilities, his hard work and undeterred spirit spoke for themselves in the octagon: “Izzy’s a bad motherf*****. He’s beaten the majority of my friends and even I was kind of doubting myself at times. I worked my ass off. I give up so many brain cells to the MMA gods everyday. This is the first time I’m at a loss for words.”
From the onset, Strickland displayed an unruffled aggression, pushing Adesanya back and herding him towards the edge of the cage. From there, he launched a devastating right hand that saw Adesnya hit the canvas. Strickland continued his intense pursuit with a barrage of punches, the new-found champion seemed literal seconds away from getting an early finish. However, Adesanya showed some grit, managing to claw back to his feet before the end of the first round. Throughout the fight, Strickland’s confidence and raw power never waned, constantly pressuring Adesanya and dominating the exchanges with well-timed blows. Despite Adesanya’s attempts to regain momentum, Strickland’s punishing jabs and relentless attacks left no room for doubt as the fight went on.
Even though Adesanya started to find a rhythm in the later rounds, including a decent comeback attempt, he wasn’t able to break through Strickland’s tight defense. The spectacle of Strickland’s victory left onlookers in awe, earning him a well-deserved championship title. Strickland’s pace didn’t let up, he kept the pressure going, leaving Adesanya without answers. For Adesanya, this marked the end of his second title reign, a disappointing conclusion that came only five months after reclaiming the belt. All eyes will now be on what the former titleholder decides on his next steps, while Strickland enjoys his reign as the new king of the middleweight division.