Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is ready to step back into the octagon. On April 22 2025, Adesanya shared on his YouTube channel that he wants to rematch Sean Strickland, the fighter who took his title at UFC 293 in September 2023. That fight saw Strickland dominate all five rounds, even dropping Adesanya in the first round, before winning by unanimous decision with scores of 49-46 across the board.
Why Adesanya Wants to Fight Strickland Again
Adesanya opened up about his mindset after his recent losses.
“I didn’t spar after my last fight. I did so well in the fight. I did so well in the camp and I didn’t get the result that I wanted. But I was like, I’m still proud of myself. I’m still proud of the way I worked,” he said.
He took a break from sparring to focus on his health, explaining:
“I didn’t spar because I just looked after my brain. When I was in Miami recently watching Volk (Alexander Volkanovski) get his bet back in Miami, I sparred with Kamaru Usman for the first time in months. I knew once I sparred it would be like, man, y’all got any fights?”
Feeling ready, he confirmed his intentions to UFC matchmaker Hunter Campbell and his coach, stating:
“I told Hunter (Campbell) already, I told my coach, ‘Yeah, it’s time.’ Like, I just knew.”
Adesanya has a specific opponent in mind for his return.
“I know who, I have a feeling who I want to fight,” he said. “I have to get some get back. Strickland. I’m going to get him back.”
His desire for this rematch goes beyond the octagon, as he shared a deeply personal reason for wanting to face Strickland again.
“Because he beat me…whooped my a*s badly…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 the young me, the inner child. So, I just want to protect him and get some get back for him,” Adesanya revealed.
At 35, Adesanya is coming off three consecutive losses, the latest being a knockout to Nassourdine Imavov in February 2025 and a submission loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305 in August 2024. Strickland, who has a 1-2 record since their fight, also lost his most recent bout to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312. This rematch could be a turning point for Adesanya to reclaim his momentum and address past wounds.
