Israel Adesanya isn’t going out without a fight. The era-making former middleweight champion is 0-3 in his last three and is about to begin his revenge tour. The Kiwi-Nigerian, of course, wants to avenge his loss to Sean Strickland first. After all, their UFC 293 clash where it all began to go wrong for ‘Izzy’.

After all, Strickland dominating Adesanya to wrest the title off of him remains one of the greatest upsets in UFC history. It caused ‘The Last Stylebender’ to go on a hiatus, only to lose again to Dricus Du Plessis at their UFC 304 title clash the next year. This was followed by a second-round stoppage loss to Nassourdine Imavov, which has caused many to question whether Adesanya is washed up. Well, ‘Izzy’ doesn’t think so, and has yet again reiterated his desire to get back into the Octagon and beat Sean Strickland first and foremost.

“Yeah, I said it to him after ‘Volk’ winning [the title at UFC 315 in the locker room because I had my first sparring with Kamaru, and I knew once I had the sparring and it felt like a fight. Yeah, it came out when I was talking to [David] Goggins and I think that’s what my spirit wants. And I haven’t really heard anything and I’m just training and getting better,” Adesanya told the ‘Our Yeah’ podcast on YouTube.

“So yeah, helping the boys do their thing, being there supporting this guy (Kai Kara France) become champ. Watching Navajo [Stirling] rise up the ranks, ‘The Bear’ on his way up, all the boys. So yeah, whenever he wants to fight, I’m ready. But, again, there is a little bit of movement in the division. Let them keep moving and we’ll see when it settles down,” ‘Izzy’ added.

Indeed, Adesanya is a veteran at this point and is working with his City Kickboxing teammates like flyweight star Kai Kara France, lightweight contender Dan Hooker, and the promising young light heavyweight Navajo Stirling, to try and get them to the highest level. But make no mistake, ‘Izzy’ clearly still harbors ambitions of becoming champ once again, and thinks a win over Strickland would move him one step closer to it.

How Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland can lead to a title shot for ‘Izzy’

At the moment, Dricus Du Plessis holds the UFC middleweight world title. The South African, of course, is set to fight the undefeated boogeyman, Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August. After which, Nassourdine Imavov, ranked #1 after the Adesanya win, seems to be next in line.

But after him, the title picture is a bit unclear. #6 Fighting Nerds team member Caio Borralho needs at least one more win to be in the title conversation, while the rest of the top ten seems some ways away from a title shot. So, yeah, Adesanya can potentially fight for the title soon after two good wins.

A win over a veteran like Strickland or #5 former champ Robert Whittaker (preferably against the latter since ‘Tarzan’ beat ‘Izzy’ at UFC 293), followed by a win over, say the young and promising Caio Borralho or the loser of Du Plessis-Chimaev could be enough to get Adesanya a title shot. This is why the obituaries written about Adesanya’s career are premature. That’s still Israel Adesanya, one of the greatest of all time, and he still seems to want to fight. Form is temporary and class is permanent, as they say, and maybe ‘Izzy’ is about to prove that adage right in his next few fights. What do you think about Israel Adesanya’s comments about the Strickland rematch?