Israel Adesanya embraces the best of both Nigeria and New Zealand on the world stage: "“I’m like the only Kiwi that can fly, I’m the one with the biggest wing. I’ve got Super Eagle wings." Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Israel Adesanya: Sean Strickland should “thank me” for title shot at UFC 293
UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya says Sean Strickland should “thank me” for getting the next 185 lbs title shot at UFC 293.
Adesanya was supposed to face Dricus du Plessis at the UFC’s pay-per-view card next month, but after “Stillknocks” fell out of the fight with a foot injury, the UFC called upon Strickland to take the fight instead. However, according to the champ himself, it was Adesanya who asked for Strickland to get the title shot, and he wants him to say thanks.
“It wasn’t about him really. He should thank me for actually making the fight happen because without me, he wouldn’t have actually got the fight. I pushed for him to get the fight because he was the next logical guy,” Adesanya told It’s Time For Sports (via MMAjunkie.com). “I’ve beat all the top five, some of them twice, so you can’t punish us for being great. I pushed for him to get the fight. He’s an idiot, but I can’t say too much about that. He’s an idiot, so he just has to behave himself and actually show up and just fight.”
According to Adesanya, the UFC had reservations about giving Strickland the title shot. However, “The Last Stylebender” said he convinced the UFC to give him the shot.
“A lot (of convincing) Like I said, he’s an idiot and you know, the UFC don’t want him embarrassing the company. But yeah, that’s all I’ll say about that, so he should thank me. He should really thank me for actually making him get the fight. I pushed for it. He (coach Eugene Bareman) knows what happened behind the scenes, and I pushed for it, and I’m glad the UFC trusted me to listen to me,” Adesanya said.
Do you think Sean Strickland has a chance to beat Israel Adesanya at UFC 293?
