Former UFC champion Israel Adesanya demands a rematch because he “feels like he was bullied”

Israel Adesanya Still Haunted by Sean Strickland Loss, Eyes Redemption Through Rematch

Israel Adesanya’s defeat to Sean Strickland remains a lingering shadow over the former UFC middleweight champion, fueling his desire to chase a rematch and reclaim his legacy.

The Nigerian-New Zealander is currently enduring the darkest stretch of his storied MMA career. Over the past three years, Adesanya has suffered three consecutive losses — each coming by a different method, further highlighting the depth of his recent struggles.

The downward slide began at UFC 293, where Adesanya shockingly lost his title to Sean Strickland in a one-sided decision. Despite the setback, he was granted another title opportunity, facing newly crowned champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305. That bout ended in disappointment as well, with Adesanya being submitted in the fourth round via face crank — marking the first submission loss of his professional career.

Attempting to bounce back, Adesanya returned to the Octagon in February 2025 to face rising contender Nassourdine Imavov. Unfortunately for “The Last Stylebender,” the result was another setback — a fourth-round TKO loss that propelled Imavov to the No.1 spot in the UFC middleweight rankings.

Now, with his championship aura fading and his back against the wall, Adesanya is more determined than ever to settle the score with Sean Strickland, whom he feels dealt him the most frustrating loss of his career — one that still feels like “being bullied,” in his own words.

Three consecutive losses are sounding the alarm for Israel Adesanya’s career

Nearly three months after that defeat, Israel Adesanya reemerged in training sessions alongside motivational speaker and former Navy SEAL David Goggins, opening up about what he had been going through.

“I haven’t done any sparring since my last fight because I gave everything I had — the camp, the prep — and I still didn’t get the result I wanted,” Adesanya shared. “But I’m still proud of myself and what I did. I chose not to spar out of care for my brain. Then, when I was in Miami and saw Volkanovski reclaim his title, I got inspired. I went and trained with Kamaru Usman after months away.”

“I knew that once I started sparring again, I’d want another fight,” Adesanya said. “I spoke with [UFC Executive Vice President] Hunter Campbell and my coach — it’s time. I feel like there’s one guy I need to settle the score with: Strickland. I’m going to fight him again.”

Israel Adesanya Wants a Rematch with Sean Strickland

Israel Adesanya Opens Up About Strickland Loss, Childhood Trauma, and His Path to Redemption

“He beat me fair and square, no excuses,” Adesanya admitted. “He gave me a beating that made me realize I needed to slow down a bit with everything I was doing. I needed to take a step back instead of fighting three or four times a year like I used to when I had the belt. I know I’m getting older — but that’s not an excuse. I just want to show him that if he beat me at my best, this time I’ll come for him the right way.”

“I was bullied a lot as a kid, and in some way, Strickland embodies that. He hurt the kid deep inside me, and now I just want to defend and avenge that little boy.”

Adesanya’s loss to Sean Strickland exposed several critical flaws in his game: his struggles with handling high-pressure boxing exchanges, and his passivity against opponents who are adept at checking or defending leg kicks.

Since joining the UFC in 2018, Adesanya maintained an active schedule, fighting two to three times per year — making him one of the promotion’s most prominent figures between 2019 and 2022, even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when many fighters were sidelined.

Once UFC’s Most Active Fighter, Now Israel Adesanya Must Carefully Plan His Career

From a technical perspective, many of Adesanya’s middleweight opponents during his reign were not particularly threatening. Fighters like Paulo Costa, Marvin Vettori, Jared Cannonier, and even Robert Whittaker struggled to present any significant challenges to the Nigerian-born fighter. It wasn’t until Sean Strickland’s breakthrough victory at UFC 293 that the cracks in “Izzy’s” game became glaringly obvious.

Now 35, Adesanya has entered what is often considered a critical phase in an MMA fighter’s career. At this stage, every victory could be the key to extending his career and proving his elite status once again. On the flip side, another loss could mark the beginning of the end, as staying at the top of the division becomes increasingly difficult amidst the ever-evolving competition.