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 12 months, Adesanya misplaced his third combat in a row, getting knocked out by Nassourdine Imavov in the primary occasion of UFC Saudi Arabia. It’s a tricky 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 just a few months off to recuperate, Adesanya says he’s not going anyplace, and even has his sights set on his subsequent opponent.

“I didn’t spar after my final combat,” Adesanya stated on his YouTube channel. “I did so properly within the combat, I did so properly 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 best way I labored. So then I didn’t spar as a result of I simply sorted my mind. Then, once I was in Miami 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 could be like, ‘Man, I’ve gotta combat!’

“So for me now, I informed my coach already, it’s time. I simply knew. And I’ve a sense who I wish to combat. 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 transferring as much as mild 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 informed 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 crucial 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 honest and sq. in Sydney,” Adesanya stated. “5 – Nil. Simply whooped my ass, badly. Once more, that was one of many issues that made me understand I must decelerate in my exercise. I used to be combating 3-4 occasions a 12 months as champion. So I wish to pull again now, as a result of I’m older, I’m doing issues totally 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 greatest. So this time I’m going to return at him right.

“Every little thing is finished since then. As a result of I used to get bullied loads as a child. So he’s an embodiment of that, in a way, as a result of he attacked me, the internal little one. So i simply wish to shield 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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Congrats!

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An Izzy-Strickland rematch does form of make sense, but additionally, that’s two High 5 guys combating one another with no hope of a title shot. Kinda would somewhat 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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