Sean Strickland is once again making light of Israel Adesanya’s past relationship with China.
On September 9, Strickland will step into the main event spotlight at Qudos Bank Arena in Australia for a highly anticipated title tilt with reigning middleweight world champion, Israel Adesanya. The pair will headline UFC 293 this Saturday night but for many fans, the real main event will be during this week’s pre-fight media day. It will be the first time that Adesanya and Strickland go face-to-face ahead of their showdown in The Land Down Under.
Entering fight week, Helen Yee dropped an uncensored and unhinged interview with Sean Strickland, where the top-ten-ranked contender once again targeted Adesanya’s past with China and even offered a little insight into his relationship status as of late.
The first thing Strickland addressed was Adesanya’s promise to his Sifu (a word commonly used in Chinese martial arts to reference one’s sensei or teacher) that he would knock out his outspoken challenger at UFC 293.
“Of course, Izzy has a master. I mean, he’s f*cking China’s little slut,” Strickland said. “Would you not expect anything else from Izzy, but bowing down to his master, China? Here’s the thing Helen. Let me tell you about Izzy. I always call him the Chinese champion and I don’t think that’s accurate, guys. And I’ll tell you why.
“Izzy’s words himself, he only did it for money. So is he more a Chinese champion or a Chinese slut? So I think we need to go away from the Chinese champion and bring back the Chinese slut, his words, not mine. That’s what Izzy is. What would you call that?”
It's officially Sean Strickland fight week and I can't wait for the utter chaos in the build up! 🔥🔥
LFG!!#UFC293 pic.twitter.com/IvYDKq5SYF
— Jordain 🏴 (@McDainMMA) September 3, 2023
Originally, Adesanya was set to face Dricus Du Plessis, but following the South African’s stunning second-round knockout of Robert Whittaker at UFC 290, ‘Stillknocks’ was unable to make the quick turnaround to face ‘The Last Stylebender’ in Australia. That paved the way for Sean Strickland to step in, but it didn’t come without a bit of convincing.
According to Adesanya, the promotion had hesitations for fear that Strickland would embarrass the company with his special brand of trash-talk. In the end, Adesanya was able to convince the UFC to book the fight.
“Here’s the thing, I know a lot of you hate me,” Strickland acknowledged. “A lot of you like me. I walk through the world and people come up to me all the f*cking time saying, ‘Sean, I hope you beat Izzy.’ The thing about that is most people don’t even like me. They just know Izzy f*cking sucks. So we’re gonna go try to murder that man for you guys because Izzy f*cking sucks.”
Sean Strickland Gives a Shout Out to His Girlfriend
Switching gears during his conversation with Helen Yee, Sean Strickland revealed that he has a girlfriend who, despite how he may present himself in front of the camera, has made him a better man.
Of course, Strickland revealed his relationship status to the world in the most Strickland way possible.
“If I wasn’t an MMA fighter, I would have to drive a Ferrari to get p*ssy,” Strickland said. “Luckily I’m an MMA fighter. I’ve got a couple Instagram followers. I actually have a girlfriend who I love very much. She makes me a better man. I was just telling her this the other day. Every time I think about breaking up with you and thinking about all the p*ssy I can get, I think about who I was before I met you.
“In the middle of the night, cleaning my f*cking guns, and thinking about overthrowing the government. Thinking about all the ones that wrong me. Making a f*cking list. As much as I like being single and getting all the p*ssy, my girl makes me a truly better man and baby, I thank you for that.”
