One of the biggest upsets in UFC history took place this weekend. Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya, arguably one of the finest champions the division has ever seen, lost his title for the second time, to Sean Strickland.
While Adesanya enjoyed an immediate rematch after he lost his title to Alex Pereira, the Strickland beating was so one-sided that many fans are wondering if the Nigerian-Kiwi fighter deserves to fight for this old belt so soon.
Does Israel Adesanya Deserve An Immediate Rematch After Losing UFC Middleweight Title?
Matt Brown argued the point in a recent episode of The Fighter vs The Writer. “I think he needs some time off first.
He must have been one of the most active champions in UFC history. He’s been through the grinder, taking every [contender].
But the reason that I think he shouldn’t have to fight someone else isn’t because of his performance against Strickland, but because of all of his accolades leading up. All of his fights that he’s done leading up.
He’s had an extremely busy schedule for a champion. He’s completely dominated almost everyone except for [Alex] Pereira and now Strickland. He’s had amazing fights.
I think he’s earned the right to not have to work his way back to the title. I think he’s earned the right that he should be able to get a rematch basically any time he loses a title for the rest of his life.”
Brown believes that Adesanya needs some time away from the Octagon before he should face Strickland again. That might mean that Sean Strickland, improbably, earns himself a title defense.
“I think he needs to take time off. Whether Strickland takes someone in the meantime, assuming that Izzy takes my advice — and who am I to tell him — but assuming he does take time off and Strickland wants somebody in the meantime, I think that’s totally fair.
But I think based off of Izzy’s record and what he’s done, the entirety of his career, he should be able to fight for the title any time he wants.”
Brown continued, reiterating the importance of a rest for one of the sport’s most active champions. “I say Izzy take a break, rest up, get mentally healthy, get hungry again.
Because yet again, I’m giving credit to Strickland because I think he took everything away from Izzy in that fight, but if it was simply Izzy not being himself, which is possible too, the first thing we’re going to look to is he’s had too much of a tough schedule.
He was just burned out and was like, ‘I don’t really feel like fighting tonight.’ He looked like he was sparring in there.”
