While Australia and New Zealand are known for their fierce sports rivalries, MMA serves as a harmonious bond between the two nations. Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, stands firmly in support of his teammate, Israel Adesanya, as Adesanya gears up to defend his UFC middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 293 on September 9th.
Volkanovski isn’t just predicting a win for Adesanya; he believes Strickland is in for a tough battle.
“Obviously Sean is gonna talk, Sean is gonna try and get under his skin,” Volkanovski shared on his YouTube channel. “So that’s gonna make it fun. But I feel Izzy is going to really really put it on him. Especially with the talk that’s gonna happen. I think Sean Strickland is gonna definitely pay for some of the things he’s gonna say. Stylistically, I feel like he’s definitely gonna get hurt.”
Strickland has previously struggled against opponents with unfavorable stylistic matchups, suffering a knockout loss to Alex Pereira. While Adesanya boasts remarkable skills, he may not possess the one-punch knockout power seen in some fighters. However, Strickland’s skepticism about jiu-jitsu could be a potential vulnerability.
Despite potential hurdles, Volkanovski is thrilled to see a regional champion atop the latest pay-per-view card in Australia. He acknowledged the challenges Adesanya faced, such as Dricus Du Plessis’ inability to fight and Strickland stepping in, but expressed his excitement for the upcoming showdown.
“I’m sure there was a few hurdles in there with Dricus [Du Plessis] not being able to fight and now Sean Strickland stepping in,” Volkanovski commented. “Really looking forward to this one, it’s good to have someone like myself or Izzy defending our belts here in Australia. I’m very glad that he was able to get that over the line. I think it’s a great fight for [Adesanya].”
As the anticipation builds for UFC 293, MMA fans in Australia and beyond eagerly await the clash between Adesanya and Strickland, which promises to be a memorable showdown.
