Sean Strickland Explains What Differentiates Him From Israel Adesanya

Sean Strickland still doesn’t think highly of Israel Adesanya’s approach to life.

Strickland went hard at Adesanya with his trash talk even before they were matched up during the UFC 276 presser in July 2022. He later landed a title shot against Adesanya by a stroke of luck, replacing an injured Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 293 in September 2023.

Strickland vocally questioned Adesanya’s lifestyle in the lead-up, targeting everything from his painted nails to his love for anime. While Adesanya vowed to knock his opponent out, Strickland emerged with a unanimous decision triumph in one of the biggest upsets in recent memory.

“Tarzan” is now slated to defend his strap against Du Plessis (20-2) at UFC 297 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Adesanya is potentially looking to return to the Octagon in the second half of the year. The former middleweight champ was also recently arrested in New Zealand for driving under the influence. Strickland has now questioned Adesanya’s lifestyle yet again, also detailing how he differs from the Nigerian-born Kiwi.

“At some point, we all lose. You can be like ‘Izzy,’ laying in a bathtub of flower petals and you could have an entourage of people following you around, but at some point, sometimes I make fun of you for having sex with your dog. Then you’re gonna crumble as a human being and get a DUI. That’s just not me because like, I’m level,” Strickland told ESPN.

“You’re not gonna see me laying in a bathtub of rose petals and telling you I’m the greatest in the world,” he continued. “I’m just a f—-ing idiot, who goes and gets hit in the head for money, and currently, I’m the best at not getting hit in the head. At the end of the day, that’s all it is.”