Israel Adesanya is still looking to get a rematch with Sean Strickland and believes the fight will happen one day after losing the middleweight title in a shocking fashion.
The moment happened last year, but he hasn’t been able to lock down a rematch. Since then, Adesanya has won the belt back in August from Dricus Du Plessis, who had taken the belt from Strickland months prior. While speaking on the JRE MMA Show, Adesanya stated that he wants to get his hands on Strickland and have some revenge.
“Strickland, definitely. That fight was not me. Again, I don’t make excuses… [Comedian Dave Chappelle] said something like, ‘When it’s your time, you have to know and be humble enough when it’s someone else’s.’”
– Israel Adesanya on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast
Adesanya stated, “That was just his week, and his, and everything. So it’s his time, let him have it, but I definitely know what I can do. I took his best shots, and I just know I can take this guy. I know what I can do. Not similar to the Pereira one where I was winning, but this one, I definitely know what I can do with this guy.”
Although he thinks his best version beats Strickland’s best version, that version didn’t show up when they met in 2023. However, in a rematch, he’s more than confident in his ability. It’s believed that Strickland will get a rematch with Du Plessis next.
