Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has finally opened up about losing his title to Sean Strickland earlier this month.
“The Last Stylebender” was knocked down in the opening round of the pair’s UFC 293 main event, and went on to drop a five-round decision in one of the biggest upsets in promotion history. Following the fight, the normally media-friendly Adesanya opted to say just a few words before handing the mic to City Kickboxing coach Eugene Bareman.
Now, Adesanya has addressed the loss head on, calling his night at UFC 293 “like a bad dream.”
Speaking on his own Freestylebender Youtube channel with brother David, Adesanya stated that “It wasn’t a nightmare. A nightmare is like, ‘Oh sh*t, f*ck.’ A nightmare is like, you’re scared. It was just like, you try and hit the guy and it just feels like noodle arms. Just like, what the f*ck? So yeah, I just felt like that, like a bad dream. The feeling I had watching it was completely different, and I called Eugene right afterwards and we talked — and same thing, I’m quietly confident.”
Bareman, immediately following UFC 293, had expressed confidence in a hypothetical rematch, saying they’re take the fight the following weekend if they could. Dana White would go on to tell reporters that “you do the rematch” and that it made sense, before a week later chastising reporters for suggesting the UFC would run the fight back, which adding he wasn’t opposed to it.
When and if the rematch does happen remains to be seen as a result.
With that in mind, when asked when he’d fight again, Adesanya played it close to the chest. “We’ll see,” he stated.
“It’s not over,” Adesanya added. “The story’s still being written.”
The former two-time champ, however, appears willing to pursue a third title reign.
“The belt’s never mattered to me,” said Adesanya. “I mean, it does obviously, but how many times have I said it’s just a fancy tiara that brings more money and this and that, rah, rah, rah. That belt’s just a nice accessory. I’ve already got belts, I have many belts.”
“I’m just going to do it again, just for fun,” he finished, holding up three fingers. “Just for fun.”
