UFC: Israel Adesanya wants Sean Strickland rematch

Israel Adesanya wants to run it back against Sean Strickland, with the former UFC middleweight champion naming the American as his desired next fight.

The Nigerian-born Kiwi once reigned supreme in the middleweight division but is now riding a three-fight losing streak.

His downturn in form was sparked by a loss to Strickland in September 2023 — a fight which he was heavily favoured to win across UFC betting sites.

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Now, having lost to Dricus du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov since then, the 35-year-old is eyeing a rematch with Strickland as a way to regain form.

“I have a feeling who I want to fight,” Adesanya shared on his YouTube channel on Wednesday.

“I got to get some get-back. Strickland. I’m going to get him back.

“He beat me fair and square in Sydney, five-nil. Just whooped my ass badly.”

The Auckland-based fighter admitted his loss to Strickland made him realise he needed to “slow down his activity” after regularly taking on multiple title bouts per year.

“I don’t want to make excuses, because he beat me, but then I just want to show him, if you beat me at my best — this time I’m going to come at him correct,” he continued.

Adesanya explained that his motivation behind a rematch is deeper than simply regaining form or exacting revenge.

“I used to get bullied a lot as a kid,” he said.

“Everything he’s done since that, he’s an embodiment of that in a sense.

“He attacked the young me, the inner child.

“So, I just want to protect him and get some get-back for him.”

Last time the pair shared the octagon, Adesanya was a $1.15 favourite to win at BetOnline.

If the rematch does occur, betting odds are expected to be much closer at leading bookmakers.

However, Strickland himself is in a tough patch of form, having just lost to du Plessis twice in his last three fights.

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