The UFC middleweight division is about to witness a historic showdown between two of its most dominant and charismatic fighters. At UFC 293 on
September 9, 2023, in Sydney, Australia, Israel Adesanya will defend his title against Sean Strickland. As both men have been on a roll throughout the division and have traded verbal jabs on social media, this is a battle that has been cooking for quite some time.
Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya is the reigning and undisputed UFC middleweight champion. His professional record reads 24-2, with 15 victories coming via knockout. He was already a multiple-time champion in kickboxing and boxing when he made the switch to mixed martial arts, so it's no surprise that he's considered one of the best strikers in MMA history.
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Israel Adesanya defends title belt against Sean Strickland. | Source: Google[/caption]
After making his UFC debut in 2018, he immediately went to the top of his category, defeating legends such as Anderson Silva, Robert Whittaker, and Yoel Romero.
Starting in 2019, Israel Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) held the middleweight championship for five years before Alex Pereira defeated him in November 2022. But in April of 2023, Adesanya got his revenge against Pereira with a knockout victory in the second round.
In 2021, he tried to become a two-division champion by competing in the light heavyweight division, but he was
defeated by a unanimous decision by Jan Blachowicz.
Watch Israel Adesanya's Best UFC moments:
https://youtu.be/Xbqy3Sg_SQo?si=GWyM26iipxlPUZbt
Sean Strickland
When it comes to challenging for the UFC middleweight championship, Sean Strickland is your best bet. His professional record reads 27 wins, 5 defeats, including 11 knockout victories. He has a reputation for being abrasive and unrelenting in his approach, as well as for engaging in trash talk and being divisive.
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Sean Strickland contends for Israel's middleweight championship title. | Source: Google[/caption]
He began competing for the UFC in 2014 at the welterweight class, but two years later, after recovering from a horrific motorcycle accident, he moved up to the middleweight class. Since then, he is unbeaten in six bouts, with notable wins against Uriah Hall, Jack Hermansson, and Brendan Allen.
Sean (27-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) has recently
defeated Nassourdine Imavov and Abus Magomedov in consecutive bouts.
Watch the video on the Rise of Sean Strickland:
https://youtu.be/xHiwI04xlSY?si=Jvmb1Y5ydgV9PJst
Adesanya Vs Strickland Matchup
Both Adesanya and Strickland favor standing and striking, so this bout could be exciting to watch. However, there is a wide gap between their striking ability and techniques.
When it comes to timing, distance, and precision, Adesanya is unrivaled. He keeps his opponents at bay with his long reach, quick feet, and deft use of angles before unleashing devastating blows. He's a master of the art of the surprise attack, using spins, elbows, and feints to keep his opponents on their toes. He is highly adaptable in combat and has a good fight IQ. His leg game is topnotch and devastating.
Strickland is known for his ability to walk down opponents and overwhelm them with volume and force throughout fights. He punches with ferocity, especially with his left hook. In addition, he is not frightened of clinch work or rough punching. His tough jaw and relentless motion make him a formidable opponent.
The key factors that could determine the outcome of this fight are:
- Range: With a 6-inch edge in forearm length, Adesanya will have a huge reach advantage over Strickland. Using his jab, kicks, and knees, he will attempt to keep Strickland at a distance from which he can land strikes without suffering significant damage. In order to hit his combinations and force Adesanya against the cage or fence, Strickland must close the distance and move inside his opponent's range.
- Defense: Adesanya's defensive prowess is exceptional; he is able to avoid or block the majority of his opponents' strikes with deft use of his head, feet, and guard. Adesanya was knocked out once by Pereira in November 2022. Strickland relies more on his chin and toughness than on his defense, making him more vulnerable. His UFC record now includes four knockout losses, to Santiago Ponzinibbio (2018), Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (2017), Alex Garcia (2015), and Luke Barnatt (2014).
- Grappling: Both fighters prefer to keep the action on their feet, although neither is noted for their grappling prowess. Both, though, have demonstrated at least a passing knowledge of wrestling and submission techniques. While Strickland has successfully avoided only 82% of takedown attempts in the UFC, Adesanya has successfully avoided 86%. As of 2018, Adesanya has two takedowns of his own, against Marvin Vettori and Derek Brunson. In his UFC career, Strickland has recorded seven takedowns, the most recent of which came in 2022 against Jack Hermansson. Adesanya submitted Rob Wilkinson in 2018 with a triangle choke, while Strickland submitted Bubba McDaniel in 2014 with a rear-naked choke, both in the UFC.
Adesanya expects Strickland to grapple, which he thinks could open up a potential submission for him. According to
mmajunkie, Adesanya says:
“What do I want in my career? Submission – I definitely want a submission,” Adesanya said. “It might be this fight. I know he’s going to wrestle. He’d be dumb not to. I know he’s going to try and mix it up. He’s doing this whole thing: ‘Man dance … man dance.’ He’s going to crotch sniff. That’s what he’s going to do.”
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Key comparisons between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. | Credit: UFC.com[/caption]
Prediction
Both fighters are highly skilled and have proven themselves against top opposition, so this bout should be a competitive and close one.
Rocketparrot, however, believes that Israel Adesanya would keep his title via unanimous decision after five rounds of action based on their skills, styles, and records. Even though Strickland has more strength and stamina, we think Adesanya will win because of his superior striking technique, precision, and defense. We also believe that Adesanya will be able to evade or escape most of Strickland's takedown attempts, allowing him to stay the fight standing and capitalize on his superior position.
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