MMA news: ‘I’m going to get him back’ - Israel Adesanya targets rematch against Sean Strickland

MMA expert Niall Togher of Sports News Blitz brings the latest on Israel Adesanya, who has set his sights on a rematch with Sean Strickland.

After a period of reflection and setbacks, Adesanya says he’s ready to return and settle the score.

Adesanya eyes Strickland rematch to reignite career

After losing to Nassourdine Imavov back in February, former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has been relatively quiet when discussing plans for his next fight and opponent.

Adesanya has lost his last three contests, and many felt that after he was finished by Imavov in his latest outing, he would retire.

However, in a recent video on his YouTube channel, Israel Adesanya revealed that he is targeting a rematch with Sean Strickland for his next bout.

When the pair first met in 2023, Sean Strickland caused one of the biggest upsets in UFC history as he dropped Adesanya in the first round before going on to outstrike him over five rounds to win the title.

Speaking in that video to famous ultra-endurance athlete and former Navy Seal David Goggins, Adesanya said:

“I’m going to get him [Strickland] back.

“He beat me fair and square in Sydney 5-0, just whooped my ass badly and again, that was one of the things that made me realise that I need to slow down in my activity.

“I was fighting like three, four times a year as a champion, so I’m like okay, I’m going to pull back now because I’m older, I’m doing things differently.

“I don’t want to make excuses because he beat me, but then I just want to show him…this time I’m going to come at him correct,” Adesanya said.

Personal feud may favour Adesanya at this point in his career

At this stage of his hall-of-fame worthy career, a personal rivalry may be the exact spark that Adesanya needs to get his career back on track.

Strickland did not hold back in the press conferences in the lead up to their first fight, and that is something that Adesanya said motivates him to want the rematch.

“I used to get bullied a lot as a kid. So, he is an embodiment of that in a sense that he attacked the young me, the inner child, so I just want to protect him and get some get back for him.” Adesanya said.

With both Adesanya and Strickland coming off losses, this fight makes perfect sense for both parties.

A high-profile matchup with another entertaining build-up would most likely headline a card or be a co-main event of a big pay-per-view, with an impressive performance for the winner re-establishing them at the top of the division.

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