UFC middleweight Sean Strickland delivered yet another impressive performance in the headliner at UFC Vegas 76. With reigning middleweight champ Israel Adesanya set to headline at UFC 293 this September, and no opponent yet confirmed, Strickland wants his shot at UFC gold.
Sean Strickland took to the post-fight press conference to put Adesanya on blast for slowing down the “stagnant” division and demanded a chance to prove himself against “The Last Stylebender.”
Sean Strickland BLASTS Adesanya For Holding Up “Stagnant” UFC Middleweight Division
“It needs to happen. We know Izzy’s on f****** repeat. This is what the UFC said, ‘The middleweight division’s stagnant, let’s get Abus in here, he might beat Sean,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah right, motherf*****! Wait until you see what happens!’
Every time they try to bring new blood — the French guy [Nassourdine Imavov] I fought before, I sent him home. This guy, I sent him back. Every time they try to bring new blood in, I send them back. Give me the f***** title [shot], I earned it.
I paid my dues. Give me that s***. I want the f****** title. Don’t run me around. I took Imavov on f****** three days’ notice.
I f****** fought this time. I paid my f****** dues. Just give me the f****** shot.”
This weekend’s UFC event Dricus Du Plessis.
Adesanya has made much of the fact tnt also features a potential middleweight title eliminator as former champ Robert Whittaker takes onhat he wants to fight Du Plessis, but Sean Strickland doubts that the South African can seriously compete with Robert Whittaker.
“I think Whittaker’s going to walk through Dricus. Whittaker’s going to walk through him. We’ve seen Izzy fight everybody. We’ve seen Izzy fight all the top guys.
Let’s get some fresh blood in there. Let’s throw some new meat at him. Maybe I’ve got something he don’t have. Maybe we take it into deep waters, see what’s up.
Give me the title [shot]. You know you want to see it. You don’t want to see Dricus fight Izzy.” Strickland continued, declaring himself a “good sport” but insisting that his time has well and truly come.
“I’m a good sport but I f****** need it. I want it. The fans want it. You f****** want it.”
Strickland’s last title charge was brought to an abrupt end around this time last year when Alex Pereira knocked him out inside a single round. Pereira went on to dethrone Adesanya in his next fight, only to lose in the immediate rematch.
Maybe Sean Strickland will finally get his chance.
