In a shocking upset, Sean Strickland defeated Israel Adesanya by unanimous decision to become the new UFC champion at UFC 293. The fight was held on September 9, 2023, at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
The Fight for UFC Champion
Strickland came out aggressive from the start, pressing Adesanya and landing a number of good punches and kicks. Adesanya tried to fight back, but Strickland was the more effective striker. In the second round, Strickland continued to control the fight, and he landed a number of hard punches that staggered Adesanya. Adesanya survived the round, but he was clearly hurt.
In the third round, Strickland continued to dominate, and he landed a number of unanswered punches that forced Adesanya to the ground. Adesanya survived the knockdown, but he was clearly in trouble. Strickland continued to press the attack in the fourth and fifth rounds, and he won the fight by unanimous decision.
The Aftermath of UFC Champion
The win was a major upset, as Adesanya was the heavy favorite going into the fight. Strickland’s victory has put him in a strong position to challenge for the UFC middleweight title again in the future.
Analysis
There were a few reasons why Strickland was able to pull off the upset. First, he was the more aggressive fighter. He came out and pressed Adesanya from the start and never gave up. Second, he was the more effective striker. He landed a number of hard punches and kicks that hurt Adesanya. Third, he had a good game plan. He knew that Adesanya was a better striker, so he focused on wrestling and grappling.
The Future
The future looks bright for Strickland. He is now the UFC middleweight champion, and he is in a strong position to challenge for the title again in the future. He is a young and talented fighter, and he has the potential to be a dominant champion.
Conclusion
The UFC 293 main event was a major upset, but it was a great fight. Strickland put on a dominant performance, showing that he is a legitimate contender for the UFC middleweight title. The future is bright for Strickland, and he will be a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division for years to come.
Additional Information
- The fight was the first UFC event to be held in Australia since 2019.
- The event was attended by over 20,000 fans.
- The co-main event of the card was a welterweight fight between Alexander Volkov and Tai Tuivasa. Volkov won the fight by submission in the second round.
- Other notable fights on the card included a lightweight fight between Arman Tsarukyan and Joel Alvarez and a featherweight fight between Calvin Kattar and Josh Emmett.
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