Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland got into a heated argument at the UFC 293 press conference.
Adesanya and Strickland have been vocal about their displeasure with one another as the two have been trash-talking one another for years. So, at the UFC 293 press conference as Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland could go back and forth, the American claimed Adesanya would be presenting China in this fight.
“He’s going to hold up a Chinese flag and f*****g swear allegiance to the CCP, man. F*****g grow a pair of f*****g nuts and grow a f*****g spine. You don’t even represent your country when you fight,” Strickland said at the UFC 293 press conference.
Adesanya v Strickland#UFC293 pic.twitter.com/dRD4U39Llz
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) September 7, 2023
After Strickland’s comments, Israel Adesanya blasted Strickland for signing a sponsorship deal with Monster Energy.
“When did you sign to Monster Energy? When did you sell your soul? Tell me. You sold your soul recently, right? Isn’t it funny that any time I have to fight someone, Monster signs them immediately and becomes a fan of them,” Adesanya said. “You know why? Because I didn’t sell out and I didn’t sell my soul. What did you have to do to that pig-headed f*ck? What did you have to do to sell your soul to get that deal?”
Adesanya was pointing fingers at Hans Molenkamp, a Monster Energy employee who’s faced allegations of pushing fighters into compromising situations for sponsorship cash. We’re not suggesting Strickland made any Faustian bargains; a lucrative Monster Energy sponsorship often comes as part of certain UFC contracts, especially when a fighter steps up for a title fight on short notice.
“Let’s talk about when Dricus won,” Strickland responds back. “Izzy is on a world stage, and he goes into the cage to call out Dricus and he race baits him. Like that’s your message, you race bait him? And not only that, he wears a shirt to s— on his ex-girlfriend. This is the kind of champ we have, and it’s a goddamn shame.”
After the two had a heated back-and-forth at the press conference, Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland had a faceoff which was a unique one. Strickland didn’t care too much for a faceoff, so he barely looked at Adesanya the entire time.
ADESANYA vs STRICKLAND! #UFC293 is LIVE SATURDAY on ESPN+ PPV! pic.twitter.com/xuir5iMy2W
— danawhite (@danawhite) September 7, 2023
Currently, Israel Adesanya is a massive betting favorite ahead of the Sean Strickland fight and many expect ‘The Last Stylebender’ to cruise to the win.
Adesanya reclaimed the middleweight title last time out as he scored a knockout win over Alex Pereira back in April. Strickland, meanwhile, earned the title shot with a TKO win over Abus Magomedov in July and before that, beat Nassourdine Imavov by decision.
