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In a riveting showdown in Sydney on Sunday, Sean Strickland, known for his polarizing style, delivered a relentless barrage of devastating punches, ultimately besting the reigning champion Israel Adesanya to secure the UFC middleweight championship.
In the highly anticipated main event of UFC 293, American fighter Strickland delivered a stunning upset by defeating the favored Adesanya to claim the 185-pound championship belt. He secured a unanimous decision victory with judges scoring the fight 49-46, 49-46, and 49-46, after an intense five-round battle.
In the electrifying atmosphere of the packed Qudos Bank Arena, Strickland delivered a barrage of sharp, precision punches to Adesanya’s head, keeping him on the defensive for the majority of the match.
“Being here feels like an unbelievable dream come true,” Strickland exclaimed, as he handed New Zealand’s Adesanya his third loss in 27 professional fights.
I expected to leave feeling somewhat bruised, but surprisingly, that didn’t happen.
“I’m at a loss for words for the first time.”
Strickland, who stirred controversy before the fight with derogatory remarks about women, reluctantly stepped in on short notice when Adesanya’s South African opponent, Dricus du Plessis, became unavailable.
Strickland, ranked fifth, secured his title opportunity with victories over Abus Magomedov and Nassourdine Imavov.
In the inaugural UFC fight in Sydney since 2017, both fighters cautiously gauged each other in the midst of an electrifying atmosphere.
The 32-year-old contender sought to capitalize on his wrestling and striking skills at close quarters, aiming to pull off a significant upset.
It was late in the first round when he seized the opportunity, landing a devastating right-hand punch that sent Adesanya to the canvas.
Despite enduring Strickland’s relentless assault, Adesanya bounced back in the second round, unleashing his trademark kicks with lethal precision.
Adesanya appeared poised to seize control in the third round, but Strickland foiled his efforts with a well-timed left hook, resulting in the fight going the distance.
Strickland (28-5) displayed relentless determination and engaged in verbal exchanges with a battered Adesanya, a former kickboxer renowned as a top-tier figure in mixed martial arts, even as the fight concluded with a stunning victory firmly in his grasp.
On the main card, the towering Alexander Volkov, standing at an imposing two meters (six feet seven inches), silenced the boisterous crowd by securing a submission win over Australian fighter Tai Tuivasa in their heavyweight bout.
Leveraging a five-inch height advantage, Russian fighter Volkov validated his favored status by executing an Ezekiel choke in the second round, effectively immobilizing Tuivasa and securing the victory with his right arm wrapped around his opponent’s neck.
Reflecting on his performance, the 34-year-old Volkov noted, “He absorbed numerous punches and remained on his feet; this guy is incredibly resilient.” This victory marked Volkov’s first submission win since 2016.
In another heavyweight clash, New Zealand’s Justin Tafa delivered a knockout blow to American Austen Lane in the opening round, connecting with a powerful left hook squarely on the chin.
This event marked the second UFC event in Australia this year, following lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s triumph over local fighter Alexander Volkanovski at Perth Arena in February.
