Israel Adesanya made it known — multiple times — that he was gunning for a Sean Strickland rematch.
It appears the feeling is not mutual.
Adesanya (24-5) was upset by Strickland in the UFC 293 main event roughly two years back and has yet to return to the win column, losing subsequent fights to Dricus du Plessis (UFC 305) and Nassourdine Imavov (UFC Saudi Arabia) — and getting finished in both losses.
Strickland (29-7) is 1-2 since dethroning Adesanya in Sydney.
“If you want to get something done right,
do it right the first time,” Adesanya told Submission Radio. “That’s the lesson I learned. And he’s doing other things in his own life. He made the money he wanted to make. But again, me as well, I don’t want to be waiting around. I’ve moved on. So I will fight, we’ll see. I’m just staying ready for everyone and anyone.”
This returning middleweight could be a fun matchup.
Fans never got the “rat lip” fight they were hoping for but Khamzat Chimaev became champion anyway, subbing Du Plessis at UFC 319 in Chicago. “Borz” could return to face the winner of this fight though it remains to be seen if UFC will keep the champ shelved long enough to make this incredible lineup.
Time will tell.
