American fighter Sean Strickland shocked the MMA world defeating Israel Adesanya to claim the world middleweight title at UFC 293 headliner Sunday.
Sean Strickland drops Israel Adesanya with a punch in the first round of the UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 293 event at Qudos Bank Arena on Sept. 10, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The 5th ranked Strckland dropped Adesanya in the first round and never looked back, serving up constant pressure and steady upright boxing to deliver a unanimous decision victory.
Judges all scored it 49-46 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya talk after their UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 293 event at Qudos Bank Arena on September 10, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. Image: Chris Unger.
Source: Getty Images
“Am I f—ing dreaming? Am I going to wake up? Somebody hit me. Oh my God guys. Literally, never in a million years did I thought I would be here,”
Strickland said in the Octagon following the biggest win of his career.
MIXED REACTIONS OF FANS
Some wrote that they had just witnessed the end of an era.
“Usman and Izzy might not be the same. Francis is gone.”
One fan noted that the reign of the black UFC champs is over, writing:
Another fan wrote that it is certainly not the end for Izzy as he feels the 34 year old Nigerian,known for his creative strikes, still looked like a champion.
“changing of the guard,” “i am sure Kamaru and Izzy will get back the titles again.”
CAN IZZY COME BACK FROM THIS LIKE HE DID AGAINST PEREIRA ?
Time will tell if the last Stylebender has been overstretched or there is still more ‘champ’ left in him. Scenes below confirm Izzy has no answer to the underdog Strickland.
IZZY’S COACH WANTS RE-MATCH NEXT WEEK
“The Last Stylebender” didn’t say much after the fight as he abruptly left the UFC 293 post-fight press conference and let his coach, Eugene Bareman, speak for him.
“I asked Mick [Maynard] if we could have the rematch next weekend,” Bareman told the media. “So, whether he grants it, I’m not sure, but I’m just very confident that we can change the outcome of this fight with very minor adjustments.”