Has Israel Adesanya bent styles for the last time? We don’t know just yet. What we do know is that the former champion feels bitter about his loss to Sean Strickland, which cost him the belt. In a recent video on his official YouTube channel, ‘Izzy’ finally broke his silence over the devastating upset.

Nobody expected this, especially not Adesanya, who had held the belt since claiming it back from Alex Pereira in April 2023. The rematch against ‘Poatan’ was a blessing for the fighter, but will he even get the chance again? Nobody knows if ‘Izzy’ is ready except for ‘Izzy’ himself.

Israel Adesanya was outgunned at UFC 293

Israel Adesanya was really quiet after he lost the fight via unanimous decision. He was hurting and just wanted to be with the people he loved. The reaction is normal and human. In fact, many of his fans may have felt the same way. Nobody quite saw it coming.

“How did I feel in there? Like a bad dream,” ‘Izzy’ confessed in his video. “Like you’re trying to hit the guy and just feels like noodle arms like just like, the fu*k.” While the fighter was on his feet trying to get to ‘Tarzan,’ nothing quite seemed to work out. Strickland had a game plan, and it was working perfectly.

The fight wore ‘Izzy’ off, and his strikes started becoming weaker with every passing round. A number of Strickland’s combination strikes went unanswered, and the former champ couldn’t keep the distance he’d have liked to. Ultimately, things went awry at UFC 293 thanks to the ringside support to ‘Tarzan’ from Coach Eric Nicksick.

“Just wasn’t able to like just get my rhythm because of his pressure,” ‘Izzy’ said. “He was right there constantly and whenever I was setting him up because he’s right there then his coach would help him and I’d be like fu*ck and yeah. It was just a good game plan from there and but also for me I wasn’t able to adjust on the fly.”

The truth is exactly what it sounds like coming from ‘The Last Stylebender.’ It’s just that Sean Strickland and his team were well prepared to answer ‘Izzy’ and the way he fights. The Californian wanted to win, and he had the right strategy. Adesanya showed a lot of acceptance when he concluded, “it was his night”.

What’s next for Adesanya and Strickland?

Adesanya has gotten an immediate rematch after losing his title once before. Rumors are afloat that it might just happen again. The idea of it has fans in a flurry of opinions while fellow fighters from all divisions show disregard towards the potential fight. Obviously, ‘Izzy’ getting a rematch means other fighters in the division lose their spot.

Also Read: “I Think It’s a Lot More Than Minor Adjustments.”- Sean Strickland’s Coach Thinks Israel Adesanya Needs a Better Gameplan if Rematch Happens

Meanwhile, Strickland doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to put the title back on the line early. He’s enjoying being a champion, but a rematch would put him back in the cage against an ‘Izzy’ who might be better prepared. Will a rematch really happen this soon? The entertainment might be worth it, but how does it do justice to others in the division? Fans may be the jury, but Dana White will be the judge.

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