Former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya has voiced his intent to pursue a second bout against the fighter who defeated him, Sean Strickland. Adesanya lost his belt to Strickland in September 2023 via unanimous decision across five rounds.
The defeat in Sydney ended Adesanya's second reign as champion and marked the beginning of a difficult period in his fighting career. He has since experienced further losses.
Despite this recent downturn, the 34-year-old fighter stated he remains focused and believes there is unfinished business to address in the division.
"I know who, I have a feeling who I want to fight," Adesanya said. "I have to get some get back. Strickland. I'm going to get him back."
Adesanya has indicated he has analyzed the initial fight and identified areas he believes he can capitalize on should a rematch occur. He expressed quiet confidence in his ability to perform differently in a second contest.
MMA analyst and former fighter Chael Sonnen commented on Adesanya's stated motivation, suggesting it stems from emotion rather than financial or fame-driven goals.
"He does not fight for world championships. He does not fight for money. He does not fight for fame. He fights out of anger," Sonnen said.
Questions about Adesanya's future in the sport persist. His longtime coach, Eugene Bareman, has previously acknowledged that retirement is a possibility for the fighter.
Bareman stated it is entirely up to Adesanya to decide if he will compete again.
Strickland, who subsequently lost the middleweight title to Dricus du Plessis, is currently ranked No. 2 in the division. Despite the rivalry, Strickland has maintained a respectful stance regarding Adesanya's place in the sport's history, as reported by one outlet.
Adesanya reflected on the initial loss, stating Strickland beat him "fair and square" but added that he feels he has loose points to fix from the bout, according to another report.
"He attacked the young me," Adesanya said. "So, I want to attack him back and ensure I get my point."
