Don’t expect Sean Strickland vs. Israel Adesanya 2 to get penciled in anytime soon.
Just a few months ago, Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) was loudly campaigning for a rematch with Strickland, the man who took his middleweight title in one of the sport’s biggest upsets of 2023. But the energy behind that callout has shifted. Speaking at the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame ceremony last Thursday, Adesanya made it clear the immediate future doesn’t include a return bout with Strickland.
“I want to, but he’s busy at the moment with other stuff, so that’s him,” Adesanya said. “But we’ll see. I’ll pick a fight this weekend.”
That “weekend” pick might be a clue. Adesanya hasn’t fought since February, when he suffered a TKO loss to Nassourdine Imavov in the UFC Fight Night 250 headliner in Saudi Arabia. With that bout marking his second straight defeat, the former champ seems to be keeping his options open—and possibly eyeing another high-profile slot in the Middle East.
The Oct. 25 UFC pay-per-view event in Abu Dhabi, Adesanya said, “sounds nice.”
While the Strickland storyline simmers, Adesanya also showed little interest in a rematch with current champion Dricus du Plessis, the man he once seemed determined to settle a score with. That potential grudge match? Also off the table—for now.
“I got DDP because he’s stubborn,” Adesanya said. “Khamzat is a beast, but DDP is just weird and stubborn, and he’s got real power.”
With Du Plessis set to defend his title against Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event on August 16, Adesanya appears content to watch from the sidelines—for the moment. Whether it’s Abu Dhabi, a new opponent, or an entirely different path, the next move for “The Last Stylebender” remains in flux. But a Strickland rematch? It’s not on deck.
Meanwhile, Sean Strickland has been busy wrestling NFL linemen.
