Israel Adesanya's wish for a title fight in Sydney has been granted, but now he finds himself facing the inevitable repercussions. These consequences involve defending his coveted middleweight belt against an unexpected contender for UFC gold – Sean Strickland, a man few ever thought would challenge for such a prestigious honor. Strickland, with little to lose and everything to gain, emerges as an unlikely threat in this high-stakes showdown.
As the main event of UFC 293 unfolds this Saturday, all eyes will be on Adesanya as he seeks to extend his second reign as UFC champion. The prevailing assumption is that he will take yet another stride toward cementing a legacy that can rival the unparalleled stature of the 185-pound legend, Anderson Silva. With the backdrop of an enthusiastic Australian crowd, Adesanya is anticipated to effortlessly dispose of Strickland, as expected. Following this victory, the path appears to be paved for marquee matchups against the likes of Dricus Du Plessis, Khamzat Chimaev, and, in the distant future, Bo Nickal.
In the realm of combat sports, neat and tidy outcomes are a rare occurrence. Even the trajectory of a rising star like Sean O'Malley had its share of unexpected detours en route to superstardom. Thus, dismissing the threat posed by Strickland would be an exercise in imprudence. Since transitioning to the middleweight division, Strickland has faced complete domination only once, and that was at the hands of Adesanya's foil, Alex Pereira. Beyond that lone setback, Strickland has consistently proven his mettle, always staying in the fight. As long as he remains in the mix, the realm of possibility remains wide open. Anything can indeed happen in the world of combat sports.