In a surprising turn of events following UFC 293, Eugene Bareman, the esteemed coach of Israel Adesanya, has voiced his belief that Sean Strickland’s reign as the UFC middleweight champion will be a short-lived one. Bareman’s candid comments came during an interview with Submission Radio, shedding light on his perspective after Adesanya’s recent loss.
“You have nights like this sometimes,” Bareman admitted, reflecting on the disappointing outcome of the fight. “The thing is, what makes these fighters the best in the world and these teams the best in the world is because they don’t have these nights often. But we had one. And we had one because Sean and his team, they were just better tonight. They were better than us. Like, I just can’t really sugarcoat that.”
Bareman emphasized the fact that fighters of Adesanya’s caliber do not underperform without reason. He acknowledged Strickland’s prowess and the unique storyline surrounding his unexpected rise to the championship. “You don’t just go in one night and just not perform — it’s all for a reason,” he explained. “And most of the time, that reason is that the opponent does certain things that make you not perform. So, you can’t take nothing away from Sean. Was he the most unlikely champion ever? Even surpassing Michael Bisping? Some would say yes, and that’s just such a brilliant story for him.”
However, Bareman ended his interview with a bold prediction, asserting that the rematch between Adesanya and Strickland would mark the conclusion of Strickland’s championship tale. While the initial loss may have stunned fans and experts alike, Bareman’s unwavering confidence in his fighter’s abilities suggests that Adesanya is far from finished in his quest for the middleweight title.
As the MMA world eagerly awaits confirmation of the rematch, UFC President Dana White has expressed interest in the idea of an immediate rematch, setting the stage for a potentially epic showdown between two of the division’s most talented fighters. The future of the UFC middleweight division hangs in the balance, with Adesanya’s coach hinting at an impending plot twist that could redefine the championship narrative.
