UFC former middleweight champion Sean Strickland is well known for his provocative nature and ability to create controversy. This time, the fighter decided to take a swipe at his old rival, Israel Adesanya.
The two clashed at UFC 293, where Strickland dethroned Israel to claim the middleweight title. However, his victory was short-lived, as Dricus Du Plessis soon defeated him. Since his defeat, the fighter has been eager for a rematch against DDP, but he shot down the chance when the fight was scheduled to happen on the champion’s home soil.
Despite his chances of a title shot being in the hands of Du Plessis, this did not hinder Strickland from taking a jab at Adesanya. The Nigeria-kiwi fighter has had eight UFC title wins and six Performance of the Night bonuses, but Strickland believes these accolades don’t qualify “The Stylebender” as a good fighter.
In a recent episode of coach Eric NickSick’s “Verse Us” podcast, Strick spoke about Izzy’s skills and his feelings about the Nigerian.
“I have an unpopular opinion. You guys aren’t going to like it. I just don’t think Izzy’s that good,” Strickland said on the Verse Us podcast. “So let me tell you why. Like, going into [UFC 293], I’m like, ‘I’m going to beat the f*ck out of you. You watch anime, you suck, I’m going to f*ck you up.’ Everybody is like, ‘Why would you say that about Izzy?”
Strickland also mentioned Adesanya’s fight with Kelvin Gastelum and believes the fighter’s skill has been overhyped.
“I just don’t think Izzy’s that good, and let me tell you why… When he fought Kelvin, I think Kelvin sucks [but] everyone’s like ‘Izzy is this and that’… I’ve sparred Kelvin so many times [since], where I’m like. ‘You kind of had a close fight against Kelvin?’ Like you’re not that f***** good.
“You’re not that f***** good. You fought f**** [Paulo] Costa, Costa was scared sh****** of you. You f***** blew on him he fell asleep, Izzy is just not that f***** good… When I say you’re not that good, I’m not talking about 90% of the roster; I’m talking about the 10% of the f***** most elite guys – and you’re not in that.”
The American disclosed that he had a feeling that Izzy wasn’t going to bring his A game in his fight with Dricus Du Plessis. Strickland concluded this after watching his training match with Dan Hooker in New Zealand.
“I watched the highlight of his training, and Dan Hooker, who I like, is just f*cking rag-dolling him on the ground,” Strickland said. “Rag-dolling him. Dan, he is a savage, but I will smoke you in wrestling, and I will smoke you in wrestling for five rounds.
“The fact that you are taking this f*cking middleweight, world champion, and you’re just beating the living f*ck out of him everywhere.”
“I think I f*cked up Izzy when he lost to me,” Strickland said. “I think that f*cked his head up a little bit. He was like, ‘This white trash motherf*cker missing half his leg comes and walks through me without struggle.’ I think that f*cked him up. I think that f*cked him up a decent amount. Not only that, but I did it from such an insulting way. Like, I was making fun of his f*cking life.”
Despite his opinion of Izzy, Strickland still looks forward to a Dricus Du Plessis rematch.
