Israel Adesanya recently called on Sean Strickland to accept a rematch instead of pursuing a bout against Belal Muhammad, emphasizing the importance of settling their rivalry. Adesanya even joked that Strickland’s previous victory over him was “easy money” for the American fighter. Their first meeting occurred at UFC 293 in September 2023 during a middleweight title bout, where Strickland earned a unanimous decision win in a surprising dominant display.
Following that fight, Adesanya expressed his desire to immediately avenge his loss. Despite this, Strickland seems more focused on a potential grudge match with Muhammad, with whom he has publicly exchanged harsh words online. This tension between Strickland and Muhammad appears to be pushing Strickland away from the rematch that Adesanya seeks.
During a discussion on Alexander Volkanovski’s YouTube channel, Adesanya reiterated his call for the rematch, stating:
“I’ve called this dude out how many times, but now he wants to fight Belal. Why? I mean, it’s easy money. Come on, it’s easy money. You beat me once, do it again. Come on… I just wanna make sure I did this right. I just want to do this one time, just one more time. You beat me? Cool. If he wants to do a third one, we’ll see.”
—Israel Adesanya, UFC Middleweight Fighter
Why Adesanya insists on a rematch with Strickland
Earlier this year, Adesanya opened up about the personal motivations behind seeking a rematch against Strickland. He revealed that his desire to face Strickland again was partly inspired by past experiences of being bullied as a child, with Strickland symbolizing that kind of torment in his view. For Adesanya, this fight goes beyond competition—it’s about reclaiming his dignity.
In a YouTube video, Adesanya acknowledged Strickland’s superiority during their first fight and expressed his readiness to redeem himself, saying:
”I sparred with Kamaru Usman for the first time in months…So for me now, I’m like, Ok, I told Hunter (Campbell) already, I told coach, that it’s time. I just knew, and I know who. I have a feeling who I want to fight. You’ll like this one. I gotta get some get back. Strickland. I’m gonna get him back.”
—Israel Adesanya, UFC Middleweight Fighter
He further explained:
”Because he beat me…whooped my a*s badly…Everything he’s done since that – because, I used to get bullied a lot as a kid. So, he’s an embodiment of that in a sense. He attacked the young me, the inner child. So, I just want to protect him and get some get-back for him.”
—Israel Adesanya, UFC Middleweight Fighter
Tensions mounting as Strickland targets Muhammad instead
While Adesanya remains focused on avenging his loss, Sean Strickland appears to be shifting his attention toward a confrontation with Belal Muhammad. Their ongoing online exchanges have fueled a bitter rivalry, making the Muhammad fight an emotionally charged prospect for Strickland. However, this detour delays the rematch that Adesanya is eager to settle, prolonging uncertainty around middleweight dynamics.
With Adesanya’s persistence and Strickland’s current priorities, the middleweight division’s future matchups remain uncertain, but the potential rematch promises to be a significant event. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if Strickland will accept Adesanya’s continued challenge or pursue alternative high-profile bouts.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Sean Strickland a millionaire?
A. Strickland stated that his current net worth is around $4 million in investments.
He mentioned having $500,000 in real estate, with the remainder in other types of accounts.
He believes that by the time he finishes fighting, his net worth could reach $8-10 million at the lowest.