September 11, 2023 6:50 pm ET
Robert Whittaker says Sean Strickland is the explanation Israel Adesanya appeared off at UFC 293.
Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) scored a large upset win when he dethroned middleweight champion Adesanya (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) by unanimous choice this previous Saturday at Qudos Financial institution Enviornment in Sydney.
Whittaker by no means anticipated Adesanya to run by way of Strickland like the chances advised and was impressed by the challenger’s capability to nullify Adesanya’s recreation.
“Strickland had a solution for each considered one of Izzy’s methods,” Whittaker stated on his MMArcade Podcast. “For each considered one of Izzy’s strengths, Strickland had a solution. He was reducing off the cage completely, he was in that menace area the place Izzy’s leg kicks have been taken out of concern. Strickland, his defensive recreation was on level.
“With Izzy throwing these looping photographs as he type of rope-a-dopes on the fence there, Strickland was affected person, simply at all times holding Izzy on the backfoot, which was taking out of his fuel. And, mate, he simply stored it constant from the very first second of the combat to the twenty fifth. It was truthfully a terrific efficiency from Strickland.” UFC president Dana White thinks Adesanya should get an immediate rematch against Strickland, claiming that “The Final Stylebender” appeared sluggish. However Whittaker stated that has all the things to do with Strickland’s efficient recreation plan, not Adesanya having a nasty night time.
“I see a number of issues popping up saying that Izzy appeared off,” Whittaker continued. “I don’t assume he had an off night time. He appeared off as a result of Sean shut him down. Izzy wasn’t given any area within the open flooring to do any of his tough kicks. He wasn’t given any area to work any of his flinch video games together with his punches. He wasn’t given the prospect. Sean was in his face from the primary bell ring.”
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