UFC 293: 'I feel like the guy didn't even try' - Sean Strickland criticises Israel Adesanya for 'amateur' performance

New UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland said it felt like Israel Adesanya “didn’t even try” as the American produced one of the biggest upsets in the sport’s history.

Strickland, 32, was a massive underdog coming into the fight at UFC 293 against Adesanya but was dominant from start to finish, earning the unanimous decision victory after all three judges scored the contest 49-46 in his favour.

Adesanya first clinched gold against Robert Whittaker in 2019 and went onto defend the belt five times, but Strickland was at a loss to explain his rival’s lacklustre display in the Qudos Bank Arena in Australia.

“Goddamn, dude. I feel like the guy didn’t even try,” Strickland said live on TNT Sports during his post-fight press conference. “There were times where he was throwing punches and I was like, ‘Am I fighting an amateur right now? What the f*** is going on?’

“But yeah, I think I run my mouth a lot and people forget I can fight. But here we are, you guys. You’re going to have to talk to me a bit longer. Sorry about that.”

Such was the mammoth task facing Strickland, who improved his record in the UFC to 15-5 following his win, that he admitted he feared he might leave the octagon with “concussion”.

Adesanya is regarded as one of the most accurate strikers in mixed martial arts, so it’s little wonder Strickland planned to use his wrestling to get the job done before finding he was more than a match for his foe on his feet.

Strickland sent Adesanya to the canvas at the end of the first round with a jarring right hand and continued to find success as he taunted his opponent all the way to the final bell.

“You know, I thought I was going to be leaving with a concussion but I feel relatively fine other than a few bumps and bruises,” Strickland added. “The game plan was to wrestle, you guys. We wrestled all camp. But when you’re a little autistic, you just do what you do.

“I think I’m one of the best strikers in the world. Any time you’re doing the ‘man dance,’ you’re one punch away from being knocked out. But I could spar with any world champion boxer and get the better of them. I don’t know, man. I just think I’m one of the best strikers in the world.”

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