Israel Adesanya, a well-known figure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has indicated he’s not focused on a rematch with Sean Strickland. This comes after Adesanya experienced a series of losses in the sport.
Adesanya’s last fight was in February, where he was defeated by Nassourdine Imavov. This loss marked his third consecutive defeat, following losses to Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis.
In 2023, Strickland defeated Adesanya, ending Adesanya’s second run as the middleweight champion. This was considered a surprising outcome in the UFC. Later, Du Plessis won against Strickland, taking the title. He then defended the title against Adesanya, and again against Strickland in a rematch earlier this year.
However, recently, Khamzat Chimaev emerged as the new champion in the 185-pound division after defeating Du Plessis. This led to speculation about a possible rematch between Adesanya and Strickland, seen as a way for either fighter to work their way back into title contention. But Adesanya has suggested he is not pursuing this match, noting that Strickland hasn’t shown much interest either.
Adesanya mentioned that he has “moved on” from the idea of fighting Strickland again. He expressed that he doesn’t want to wait around and is ready to fight whoever is next.
While the future plans for both Strickland and Adesanya are uncertain, so is the identity of Chimaev’s first challenger as champion.
Imavov, who previously defeated Adesanya, has been mentioned as a potential opponent for Chimaev. Another possibility is Reinier de Ridder, who could earn a title shot if he wins decisively against Brendan Allen in October.
De Ridder, a former champion in another fighting organization called One, has had a successful run in the UFC, winning four fights since joining in November. His recent victory was against former champion Robert Whittaker.
De Ridder is set to face Allen after Allen replaced Anthony Hernandez, who had to withdraw due to an injury. This situation highlights the ever-changing landscape of the UFC and the many factors that influence who fights whom for championship titles.
