What is imaginable is possible. This is the motto Sean Strickland lived by when he defeated Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. The wild turn of events took place inside the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, and ‘Tarzan’ shocked the fans as he exhibited why he belonged where he belonged.

Very few had given the American fighter a chance against the Nigerian-Kiwi fighter, who had just started his second reign at the top after reclaiming the middleweight crown from Alex Pereira. Despite this, he presented a unique challenge. The 32-year-old also didn’t disappoint and turned in a skillful performance. It was he who had the last laugh as he dislodged Adesanya from the throne and started his own era.

Notably, Strickland won the fight via unanimous decision as he swept the judges’ scorecard and became the undisputed champion.

UFC 293: Sean Strickland ends Israel Adesanya’s reign

The down-under trip proved fruitless for Adesanya, as he couldn’t defend his title for the sixth time. Moreover, the manner in which Strickland did it was splendid, and his festivities inside the cage also became a talking point.

With his latest win, the fans might expect an immediate rematch, which could come as early as UFC 300. But it’s Strickland who is pulling strings now, and he is as unpredictable as they come. So how did the opinion-dividing fighter become an undisputed champion at UFC 293? What did he do?

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Strickland’s relentless pursuit made Adesanya play on the heels

Adesanya appeared more relaxed. On the other hand, Strickland took some time to settle down, typical of his unorthodox defense techniques. Both sized each other up and when the fight picked up pace, Strickland’s forward pressure paid dividends. He caught the champion with a right that dropped him to the mat. The first major moment thus belonged to the challenger.

In the second round, Strickland, with boosted confidence, marched forward and fended off Adesanya’s efforts. Meanwhile, Adesanya maintained his calm and looked for openings on the counter. However, fighting on his heels, Adesanya failed to dictate the fight’s pace and momentum.

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The closely contested fight edged closer to getting decided on the big moments and damage, the parameters that Strickland had in his bag. In the penultimate fight, Strickland’s jabs did substantial damage. And he had the champion in trouble on numerous occasions.

Going into the final round, Strickland led the judges’ scorecard 39-37 and was a mere 5 minutes away from his glorious moment. The boxing acumen of Strickland edged him closer to the belt, and he became the champion in a manner few had anticipated.

What do you make of this exciting fight at UF 293? Let us know in the comments below.

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