Sean Strickland is not a man known for subtlety or decorum. The outspoken American has earned himself a title shot and did not hold back when talking about Israel Adesanya who he will face at UFC 293.
Strickland is ranked at #5 in the division but was given the opportunity to face the champion when Dricus Du Plessis pulled out due to injury. The pair traded barbs at the press conference for UFC 276 and there is clearly bad blood.
Strickland seems keen to continue the feud and posted an inflammatory video on his Instagram account:
View this post on Instagram
The Black Dragon
Strickland is alluding to the time Adesanya spent fighting in China when he referred to himself as ‘Chinese.’ He fought there at least 12 times and earned the nickname ‘The Black Dragon’.
Strickland is goading Adesanya about his popularity in China,
“I’m fighting Izzy the Chinese man you guys and here’s the thing I always call Izzy the Chinese champion. But Izzy’s not the Chinese champion. Izzy is the modern day man. Izzy is a Chinese slut. He sold himself for a dollar and you guys we’re gonna bring that belt back to America.”
View this post on Instagram
Motivational speaker
Strickland appears to have rebranded himself as a motivational speaker sharing self help videos. In his most recent the American offers his audience pearls of wisdom along the lines of,
“I was a piece of shit but as an adult I have seen the light, I’m the beacon that if I can change you can change.”
Adesanya has 8.3 million Instagram followers and appears to use his account primarily for paid promotions. He hasn’t responded to Strickland, who with 297,000 followers doesn’t currently have quite the same platform.
But Adesanya will doubtless be aware of the American’s comments. The two will come head to head at press conferences and weighs in before UFC 293 so sooner or later the champion is sure to have his say.
