UFC: Upset as Strickland defeats Adesanya to become the new middleweight champion

Israael Adesanyaearly Sunday Morning lost the new middleweight belt to Sean Strickland via unanimous decision.

Strickland shocked the world and pulled off the unthinkable by upsetting Israel Adesanya to become the new middleweight champion in the main event of UFC 293 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.

Strickland, 32, dropped the Nigerian-New Zealander late in Round 1 with a picture-perfect right cross, sending Adesanya spinning to the canvas before seeking a finish. Strickland could not quite find the knockout blow, however, as Adesanya, 34, survived to the buzzer.

The ensuing rounds were close, but Strickland always seemed to be a step ahead of Adesanya, who congratulated his tearful conqueror after the result was confirmed, despite a heated build to the main event.

Rivaling Matt Serra’s upset of Georges St-Pierre, Holly Holm stunning Ronda Rousey and Julianna Pena submitting Amanda Nunes, Strickland’s beating Adesanya will be talked about for years. It wasn’t just Strickland winning, it was how Strickland won as he outstruck Adesanya — widely recognized as the best striker in MMA — over the course of 25 minutes to take a title few ever saw him holding in the UFC.

Strickland applied pressure from the outset and stayed in Adesanya’s face from the opening bell with a disciplined attack. He never left himself over and kept a steady pace with a strong jab and a right hand. Adesanya tried to create openings with feints but Strickland refused to take the bait as he plowed forward undeterred.

The tone was truly set in the second round when Strickland dropped Adesanya with a right hand and unloaded a series of right hands until the round came to an end. From that point, it was all Strickland as he swept the final three rounds and prevented Adesanya from mounting anything substantial.

Adesanya was originally set to face Dricus Du Plessis but with Du Plessis unavailable and options limited, the UFC turned to Strickland to ensure that Adesanya would headline UFC 293 in Australia.

It turned out to be a horrible idea.

“The Last Stylebender” had no answers for Strickland, who came into the fight riding a modest two-fight winning streak. Adesanya was on his second reign as champion after a devastating knockout of Alex Pereira in April.

But this reign ended faster than his last one as the massive underdog with a penchant for controversy is now the UFC champion.

Here’s how it all went down in Sydney.