Israel Adesanya suffers stunning title loss to Sean Strickland

American fighter Sean Strickland captured the middleweight title from New Zealand’s Israel Adesanya at UFC 293.

Israel Adesanya Sean Strickland Dricus Du Plessis

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 01: Sean Strickland poses on the scale during the UFC 276 ceremonial weigh-in at T-Mobile Arena on July 01, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Carmen Mandato / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The UFC Middleweight division has been turned on its head once again after Sean Strickland captured the title from Israel Adesanya at UFC 293.

Strickland stepped in to take the fight at short notice after No 1 contender Dricus du Plessis withdrew citing insufficient recovery time.

Israel Adesanya suffers stunning title loss

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Now the American is the new UFC Middleweight champion after a decision victory over Adesanya in Sydney.

Adesanya might have been guilt of looking beyond Strickland given how much chat he has been willing to have about who he was fighting next.

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Strickland outfought Adesanya from the first bell with his focused striking and an early knockdown gave him control of the fight.

Sean Strickland Israel Adesanya — Israel Adesanya of New Zealand celebrates. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Carmen Mandato /AFP)

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He went the distance with Adesanya and would end up being handed the decision unanimously with all three judges scoring the fight 49-46 in the American’s favour.

“Am I f—ing dreaming? Am I going to wake up? Somebody hit me. Oh my God guys. Literally, never in a million years did I thought I would be here,” Strickland said in the Octagon.

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The crucial moment came early on when Strickland took advantage of a weak guard from Asdesanya.

A quick left-right combination from Strickland showed his boxing prowess and sent Adesanya down to the mat.

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Strickland tried to finish the job in the first but the bell came just in time to spare Adesanya’s blushes.

Sean Strickland is champion

With the American able to hit and move, Adesanya found that his own striking ability was taken right out of it and Strickland held his nerve to secure the decision.

He was content to wait for Adesanya to come at him in later rounds as he looked to keep him at arm’s length with strong jabs.

Strickland has not made mention of whether he will offer a rematch to Adesanya or take on another contender in his next fight.