Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya reveals the name of potential opponent for his comeback bout - 'You will like this one'

Time of India

23-04-2025

Fighters in the world of combat sports draw their motivation and inspiration from different sources. Most of the renowned fighters draw their motivation from the childhood experiences of their lives, owing to bullying and survival-based needs.
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Former two-time
UFC
middleweight champion
Israel Adesanya
, too, was bullied as a kid. Rising up from that state, the fighter has developed a commendable career arc in the world of combat sports. In a recent video on the fighter's YouTube channel, Adesanya, while training with the retired US Navy SEAL,
David Goggins
, revealed the name of the
opponent
he would want to face next.
Israel Adesanya talks to retired US Navy SEAL David Goggins about his previous fights and potential comeback bout
Despite a marvellous career arc, Israel Adesanya's last appearance within the Octagon has been marked with a disastrous losing skid.
With an MMA record of 24-5-0, the fighter's first-ever defeat came from Jan Blachowicz. Adesanya reclaimed the lost title in his bout against Marvin Vettori and defended it for two more times before finally losing it to Alex Pereira at UFC 281. Even though The Last Stylebender managed to get back the title once again in a rematch with Pereira, he lost it to Sean Strickland, and ever since, the career graph of the fighter has faced a setback with back-to-back losses.
While the losing skid continued, one of the fighters that Adesanya exclusively wanted to face and have a rematch with is Strickland.
Ever since their bout at UFC 293 and Strickland's unanimous win, Strickland has been continuously trash-talking Adesanya across interviews and public appearances. This has provided an extra motivation for the Nigerian fighter to bounce back on a high note. In a recent video on the fighter's YouTube channel, Adesanya had a brief talk with Former US Navy David Goggins before their scheduled workout.
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During the talk, Adesanya expressed his state of mind after the back-to-back defeats and what helped him decided to get back into the Octagon.
'I didn't spar after my last fight. I didn't spar, just cause I was looking after my brain. Then I sparred with Kamaru Usman for the first time in months. I knew once I sparred, I would want to fight.' The fighter went to reveal the name of his desired opponent, 'I told Hunter [Campbell] already.
I told my coach here, it's time. I know who, I have a feeling who I wanna fight. You'll like this one. I can get some get-back: Sean Strickland'
Adesanya, humbly, accepted the defeat that came from his bout with Strickland while giving the latter complete credit for his win. However, the post fight activities of Strickland was something that bothered Adesanya to the core
Israel Adesanya and David Goggins Chat Before Their BRUTAL Training Session
'He beat me fair and square in Sydney, five nil. Just whooped my ass badly.
That was one of the things what made me realize I need to slow down in my activity. I was fighting 3-4 a year as a champion. So I'm like, I'm gonna pull back now because I'm older. I'm doing things different. I don't wanna make excuses because he beat me. But then I just wanna show him if he beat me at my best. So, this time I'm gonna come in and correct.'
The fighter continued, 'Everything he's done since that… because I used to get bullied a lot as a kid.
So he's an embodiment of that in a sense. He attacked a young me, the inner child. So, I wanna protect him and get some get-back on him'
Adesanya reflected on how the trash-talking by Strickland reminded the former of his childhood days when he used to get bullied.
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Strickland's last bout was a defeat against Dricus Du Plessis. Strickland lost the title run, which was also a rematch of the bout where the fighter lost the middleweight title after winning it from Adesanya.
Even though there is no official confirmation of the bout between Adesanya and Strickland, the announcement by the Last Stylebender has generated excitement within the MMA community.