Strickland won with a stunning performance inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia
By Kehinde Okeowo
American mixed martial artist, Sean Strickland has become the new UFC middleweight champion of the world after defeating the defending champion, Isreal Adesanya.
Strickland wasn’t even supposed to fight at UFC 293 but he now stands tall as the new champion following a stunning performance in the main event against Adesanya inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
His opportunity came after Dricus Du Plessis suffered a foot injury that prevented him from competing in September so he took his place and was expected to be a sacrificial lamb after entering the fight as a massive underdog.
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However, he had a nearly flawless execution, with his first-round knock down of Adesanya becoming the highlight of the fight that went the whole five rounds.
Despite the odds against him, Strickland never once looked overmatched or outgunned by the New Zealander and that confidence paid huge dividends throughout the fight.
When it was over, all three judges scored the fight 49-46 in his favour and he was crowned as the new UFC middleweight champion.
After the fight, Strickland said: “I f****** dreaming?” Strickland said following the win. “Never in a million years would I thought I’d be here. Izzy’s a bad motherf*****. He’s beat the majority of my friends and even I was kind of doubting myself at times.
“I worked my ass off. I give up so many brain cells to the MMA gods everyday. This is the first time I’m at a loss for words.”
