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Israel Adesanya Does a U-Turn on Sean Strickland as UFC Champ Backtracks on Claims of a Submission With Another KO Forecast

Published 09/05/2023, 10:12 AM EDT

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via Imago

The ongoing beef between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland has reached new heights of intensity. It is just a matter of days before we see both stars settle their beef inside the Octagon. It is true that the fans have speculated on the name ‘Stylebender’ as a favorite, but it is also true that Strickland could give him a tough time in Sydney. Considering Adesanya’s confidence, it is definitely not hidden from the fans. And yet again, he showed the same optimism when he claimed to tap ‘Tarzan’ out recently.

Interestingly, Adesanya bluntly predicted a different outcome than he was anticipating at the Qudos Bank Arena. Anyhow, this time as well, he had something grim for his rival, but in a different way. But what did he actually predict? Let’s find out.

From submission to KO – Israel Adesanya has a change of plan

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Throughout the course of this rivalry, the verbal spat between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland has been highly charged. No matter what, both combatants have been vocally blunt with each other. And yet again, jabs were thrown as a Nigerian-Kiwi fighter made a distinct claim from the previous one. While speaking on his documentary with Submission Radio on YouTube, Adesanya once again targeted Strickland.

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He said, “I am gonna knock this guy out bro! I am telling you. I am gonna knock this guy out. This ain’t no cocky sh*t.” Shedding light on his claims, he further said, “So just what we worked on in this camp and we know what he is going to try and do, one plus one is two and I’m gonna knock you out. I’m gonna knock you out, Sean Strickland. That’s it.”

Not taking Strickland lightly was a key for Adesanya as he progressed towards UFC 293. In fact, his statements further made his mindset evident.  “I don’t look past anyone, I don’t underestimate anyone, I don’t overestimate anyone. I’m focused on Sean Strickland. He is a man that’s dangerous because he has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But I have a habit of making dangerous men look easy and I’m going to do it again this Sunday,” said ‘Izzy’.

The statements are surprising since Adesanya recently claimed that he would gain a victory against Strickland by submission. However, the champion seems to have changed his plans, as evident from his statements. In fact, he also had plans for what he would do if he gained an emphatic knockout triumph against his rival.

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Adesanya is planning an emphatic post-fight celebration

For all the attacks that Strickland made on the Auckland native, Adesanya came up with an impactful response recently. In fact, he had kept a scene in his mind while he told the reason for a KO victory over ‘Tarzan’. ‘Izzy’ believes that he would knock Strickland out and would get to enjoy the moment post-fight with a TikTok dance.

via Imago

He said that the sole reason to knock him out was because he would get to do that flashy celebration after his triumph. He might have kept that in mind considering Strickland’s jabs regarding his nails in the past. Indeed, the fans could witness a treat in Sydney. Keeping the main event in mind, what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by:

Akchhat Bachheti

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Akchhat is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports, showcasing his love for the game and unwavering commitment to it through his articles. His fascination with the sport began when CM Punk made his debut against Mickey Gall in 2016, sparking his enduring passion. Since then, Akchhat has aspired to provide a comprehensive understanding of the sport and its participants.
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Edited by:

Yeswanth Praveen