Sean Strickland’s Bold Take on Israel Adesanya’s Legacy
Sean Strickland, the fighter who famously dethroned Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title, isn’t holding back his opinion on „The Last Stylebender’s“ fighting prowess. Despite Adesanya’s storied career, Strickland believes the former champion is significantly overrated. This candid assessment comes at a time when Adesanya is navigating a challenging phase of his career, having lost three of his last four bouts.
Strickland’s Unimpressed View of Adesanya
Sean Strickland has been quite vocal about his perception of Israel Adesanya, and it’s a perspective that challenges the widely held admiration for the former champion. Strickland openly stated on the „Verse Us with Eric Nicksick“ podcast that he simply doesn’t believe Adesanya is as good as many people think. He pointed to Adesanya’s 2018 fight against Kelvin Gastelum as a prime example, remarking that even Gastelum, whom Strickland considers „nothing special,“ gave Adesanya a much tougher fight than many acknowledged. Strickland’s direct observation from sparring with Gastelum multiple times led him to believe that Adesanya wasn’t as dominant as the narrative suggested, especially given how close the fight was.
Questioning Adesanya’s Dominance and Tactics
Digging deeper into his criticism, Strickland highlighted specific fights to underscore his point about Adesanya’s perceived limitations. He cited Adesanya’s bout with Paulo Costa, suggesting that Costa was visibly intimidated and hesitant, making it easy for Adesanya to secure a victory without facing significant resistance. According to Strickland, this kind of performance, where the opponent is seemingly afraid, doesn’t showcase true greatness or overwhelming skill. He feels that Adesanya’s reputation was built on opponents who were either outmatched in terms of strategy or intimidated, rather than being consistently outclassed by Adesanya’s sheer fighting ability. This critical analysis casts doubt on the true depth of Adesanya’s championship reign from Strickland’s viewpoint.
The Shifting Landscape of the Middleweight Division
The middleweight division has certainly seen its share of shifts, with Sean Strickland himself experiencing both the pinnacle of victory and the sting of defeat. After his stunning upset of Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, Strickland went on to lose the title to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297. He has since bounced back with a win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302, and he’s clearly eyeing a rematch with Du Plessis, hoping to reclaim the belt he held briefly. Meanwhile, Israel Adesanya finds himself in an unfamiliar position, with three losses in his last four outings, prompting discussions from figures like Michael Bisping about whether his championship-contending days are behind him. This dynamic sets the stage for a potentially thrilling future in the division, with Strickland eager to re-establish his dominance.
