Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has made it clear that he wants another shot at Sean Strickland, the man who ended his second title reign in September 2023, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigerian-born New Zealander has faced a challenging stretch in his career with three consecutive losses but is channelling his frustration and anger as motivation for a potential rematch.
“I know who, I have a feeling who I want to fight,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “I have to get some get back. Strickland. I’m going to get him back.”
The rivalry between Adesanya and Strickland began at UFC 293 in Sydney, where Strickland pulled off a major upset, defeating Adesanya by unanimous decision and claiming the middleweight title. Since then, Adesanya has openly reflected on the defeat and his recent struggles but insists that his desire to fight again is rooted in something deeper than championships or fame.
MMA analyst and former fighter Chael Sonnen, recently commented on Adesanya’s mindset, stating, “You must understand one thing: he does not fight for world championships. He does not fight for money. He does not fight for fame. He fights out of anger.
“The one Izzy you don’t want to see—it’s not the one that trained hard or trained in New Zealand or that was drinking a little bit in between or went and found David Goggins. That’s not the one you have to care about. You got to care about the Izzy that’s mad at you. Then you have a problem.”
Adesanya’s approach to this rematch is marked by a sense of unfinished business. After reviewing his loss to Strickland, he expressed confidence that the outcome would be different in a second meeting.
“I’m quietly confident,” Adesanya said. “That’s after watching the fight. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I see [what went wrong].’”
Despite his clear desire to face Strickland again, questions about ‘The Last Stylebender’s’ future have emerged following his unprecedented three-fight losing streak—the first such slump across his entire combat sports career.
His longtime coach Eugene Bareman recently hinted at a potential retirement decision looming over Adesanya’s head.
“I don’t know what he’s doing next but that’s a good place to be. If he’s going to fight again, then he’s going to fight again. If he’s not, we’ve been blessed, I’ve been blessed, the world’s been blessed, the team’s been blessed. But it’s completely up to him (to make a decision about retiring),” Bareman said.
Meanwhile, Strickland, now ranked No. 2 in the division after losing the title, has shown respect for Adesanya despite their rivalry, recognizing Adesanya’s impact and legacy in the sport.
