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'He's a f**king legend': Strickland puts heated rivalry aside to pay tribute to Adesanya after TKO defeat
Stephen Foote • February 7th, 2025 10:50 am
Photo: Supplied
It's no secret that UFC middleweights Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya haven't shared the most acrimonious of relationships.
As is his want with most of his opponents, the loud-mouthed American unleashed a month-long tirade against 'The Last Stylebender' prior to their meeting inside the Octagon in Sydney back in September 2023, taking aim over everything from Adesanya's alleged "cringe lord" nature and even his relationship with his dogs.
Stepping in as a short-notice injury replacement, Strickland eventually overwhelmed the then-defending champion en route to an emphatic unanimous decision win to dethrone Adesanya in a result that left the MMA world in shock.
That defeat was the first in a three-fight skid for the City Kickboxing product, culminating in his second-round TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov in Saudi Arabia last weekend which has had many pundits and fans calling for the two-time world champ to hang up his gloves.
But rather than revel in his rival's situation, Strickland offered a surprisingly sympathetic reaction to the result, pointing out Adesanya's immense contribution both to the division and the sport as a whole.
"I think Izzy's a great dude," Strickland told Sport Nation's Fight Club Podcast. "He's a f**king legend."
"I don't know where he goes from here, but he's accomplished so much in the sport and he's shaped so much.
"He is a forever lasting name in the middleweight division."
Is it time for Israel Adesanya to retire? | Fight Club Podcast
Adesanya is second only to the great Anderson Silva in terms of middleweight world championship defences, rebuffing five challengers before dropping the belt for his second world title to Strickland.
Strickland says opponents have simply "figured out" the blueprint to beat the two-time champ.
"He leans back, you lean back, you go forward - that's just just how it goes, man," he explained.
"Your entire fight can't be a game of range, and all Izzy is is a game of range. The moment that range doesn't work and it's time to be somewhere else, you can't do it. You can't f**king do it. So I just think guys are just figuring it out.
"But I don't want to take that away from anything he's done. F**king legend of the sport."
Strickland is currently in Sydney preparing for his rematch against Dricus du Plessis in the headline act at UFC 312, where he'll be trying to recapture the belt the South African took away from him in Toronto a year ago.
Du Plessis claimed a contentious split decision win in an exceptionally tightly contested bout that day, and Strickland is adamant he'll reverse the ledger across the ditch this weekend.
"I'm more polished. I'm better. I'm in better shape," he said.
"Dricus, the man's on the short bus and I respect him for it. He goes full send for 25 minutes, doesn't get tired and that's the kind of fight I want. I want him at his best.
"But I've been working my ass off for the last year, polishing up the skills, been in the gym every single day. So, I'm excited to be a better version of myself."
Listen to the full episode below:
