In UFC stunning turn of events that left the mixed martial arts world in awe Sean Strickland shocked everyone. He sent Israel Adesanya to the canvas early in the first round and maintained relentless pressure with his precise boxing. This incredible performance earned him a unanimous decision victory over Israel Adesanya, making him the new middleweight world champion in the UFC 293 main event on Sunday. All three judges scored it 49-46 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Strickland, clearly overwhelmed with emotion, exclaimed in the Octagon after the most significant win of his career Am I dreaming? Is this real? Someone pinch me. Oh my God guys. Honestly, I never thought I would be standing here in a million years.
Despite being a significant underdog and holding the fifth-ranked position in the middleweight division, Strickland immediately Seized Adesanyas attention in the first round with a powerful left-right combination that penetrated “The Last Stylebenders guard, causing him to hit the canvas with a resounding thud. Adesanya was visibly hurt and even turned his back to Strickland, who capitalized on the opportunity, relentlessly attacking and nearly finishing the champion before the end of the first round.
From that point onward, Strickland maintained his aggressive fighting style consistently displaying precise boxing skills that kept Adesanya on the defensive, circling the Octagon. Adesanya struggled to find his rhythm and expended significant energy navigating the cage, preventing him from unleashing his trademark dynamic striking techniques.
Throughout the fight, Strickland remained composed and upright, relying on his jab to land effective shots particularly those stiff jabs. These well-placed punches were enough to secure a comfortable victory on the judges’ scorecards, causing a significant shake-up in the UFC.
Let’s take a look at the complete rundown of the UFC 293 event headlined by the highly anticipated Adesanya vs. Strickland matchup.