UFC 293 – Adesanya Vs Strickland
The middleweight champion of the world meets a challenger that few expected to dethrone him down under. Israel Adesanya takes on Sean Strickland in a bout that features one of the sport’s highest strike rates.
Adesanya lands a piercing jab. Strickland wings a hook but misses. The fighters exchange shots for a bit as Strickland blocks low kicks and stabs a front kick.
Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland
Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland meet in a middleweight championship fight at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia. The Nigerian-Australian Adesanya was the first fighter to hold the belt since returning to the promotion and he’s now just one win away from becoming a three-time champion. Strickland fought on a month’s notice and he’s a tough competitor that can be a challenge for anyone in the middleweight division.
The men didn’t tap gloves before the start of Round 1 and both took their time to feel each other out. Adesanya threw out some kicks and used his movement to keep Strickland off balance. Strickland looked to find a counter and he would work the jab to set up big shots.
Adesanya started to get more active as the second frame went on, but he couldn’t put Strickland in any real danger. The Last Stylebender threw the left pawing jab and he worked to the body with some good head kicks as well. Strickland would land a combination late in the round, but it was not enough to put Adesanya in any danger.
Round three saw limited output from both men and it was a close round that could go either way. Strickland kept trying to move forward and he threw some good combinations at the end of the round. Adesanya had a good high kick to the body and he would work some hard leg attacks as well.
Fight Predictions
Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland square off in a 5-round middleweight championship fight in the main event of UFC 293 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia on Saturday. While Adesanya is the favorite to win, the fight looks like a tough test for the champion.
Adesanya is a dynamic striker who uses his long reach and powerful leg kicks to overwhelm opponents. He also has good takedown defense, and he has a knack for scoring late finishes. Strickland, on the other hand, is a durable brawler who can hold his own on the ground. He has scored several highlight-reel knockouts during his career and is a threat to anyone in the division.
This is Adesanya’s first title defense since he reclaimed his middleweight belt with a second-round KO/TKO against Alex Pereira in April. He is considered one of the sport’s next great superstars, and he hopes to cement his legacy by winning this fight.
While Adesanya is the clear favorite, he’s facing a challenge from an opponent with improved striking. Strickland has improved his game in recent years, but he’s still not in the same league as Adesanya. The underdog has scored a few impressive victories over the likes of Jared Cannonier, Nassourdine Imavov, and Abus Magomedov, but he’s struggled in some of his other fights. He’s a tough fighter to score a finish against, but he could lose this fight via decision.
Fight Odds
The UFC’s last remaining middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defends his title against Sean Strickland tonight at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. Adesanya reclaimed his belt in April with a second-round KO/TKO of Alex Pereira, and is a +650 favorite to win against the tough challenger.
Strickland’s MMA resume isn’t nearly as impressive as Adesanya’s, but the 29-year-old is a legitimate threat in his own right. He won a number of regional fights, and has fought quality opponents like Jared Cannonier, Nassourdine Imavov, and Abus Magomedov. He’s also been a main event fighter on multiple occasions, and his length and striking from the outside should prove troublesome for Adesanya.
It’s worth noting that Strickland is 2-2 in his last four fights, which has some people skeptical of his ability to pull off an upset. However, he did lose by a close split decision to Cannonier in a fight he took on short notice and lost via first-round KO to Alex Pereira before beating Marvin Vettori and Nassourdine Imavov. The only thing that’s holding back the underdog’s odds of winning here is Adesanya’s superior defensive wrestling, which he’ll likely use to keep this fight on the feet.
SportsLine MMA expert Kyle Marley is picking Adesanya to win in a unanimous decision. He’s studied this card from top to bottom and has locked in his best bets for this event. $100 bettors who follow Marley’s picks have seen massive returns over the past four years, including a perfect 10-0 record this year. Join him at SportsLine for all the best MMA betting predictions and analysis. Sign up for a free account today!
Fight Lines
The UFC 293 main event pits middleweight champion Israel Adesanya against Sean Strickland. Adesanya is the heavy favorite at -650 odds, while Strickland is priced at +450.
This will be Adesanya’s sixth title defense. He’s a tremendous striking talent, but he also has some excellent defensive wrestling skills that he uses to control opponents and create a situation where he can get a finish.
Strickland, on the other hand, is a very good boxer. He doesn’t use his lower half very much when he strikes, which will put him at a disadvantage against Adesanya’s kickboxing style. He’s also not a very big middleweight, which will leave him susceptible to the same kind of size advantage that other opponents have experienced against Adesanya in the past.
Despite those shortcomings, Strickland is a solid challenge for Adesanya. He’s a great counterpuncher who knows how to fight off the back foot and can pick apart opponents with his jab. Strickland will try to rely on his boxing skills against Adesanya, which should work well for him, especially if he can keep up the pace and force Adesanya to tire out.
Adesanya has dominated every opponent he’s faced in his career, but the fight isn’t guaranteed to end in his favor. If he can’t get a finish, Strickland has enough skill to hang around and make things difficult for the champ. Check out SportsLine for more on this and other great UFC 293 picks from the MMA expert who has profited $6,200 in 2022 alone. Click here for all of SportsLine’s expert UFC picks.
Schedule
The main event of UFC 293 will feature middleweight champion Israel Adesanya making his first title defense against Sean Strickland. Adesanya is currently riding a six-fight win streak and is a huge favorite to retain his title. Strickland is a top contender in his own right, having won back-to-back fights over Alex Pereira and Nassourdine Imavov.
The early prelims kick off at 8pm ET/5pm PT, while the main card airs live on PPV at 10pm ET/7pm PT from Qudos Arena in Sydney, Australia. In the co-main event, Alexander Volkov faces Tai Tuivasa in a heavyweight showdown, while Manel Kape takes on Felipe Dos Santos in a flyweight battle and Tyson Pedro fights Anton Turkalj in light heavyweight action.
Fans can watch the prelims and the main event for free with a subscription to ESPN+. The PPV cost to watch Adesanya and Strickland is $19.99.
