For the primary time in his 12-year blended martial arts profession, former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has misplaced back-to-back fights. “The Final Stylebender” was submitted within the fourth spherical of the UFC 305 fundamental occasion in opposition to champion Dricus du Plessis final Saturday.
Adesanya has suffered defeats to the final two 185-pound titleholders: Sean Strickland and du Plessis. Strickland believes Adesanya’s latest losses occurred as a result of Adesanya’s not that good.
“I’ve an unpopular opinion. I simply do not assume Izzy is that good,” Strickland instructed the Verse Us with Eric Nicksick. “Let me inform you why.”
“When he fought Kelvin [Gastelum], I believe Kelvin sucks. Everyone seems to be like, ‘Oh man, Izzy, he is this and that.’ I’ve sparred Kelvin so many occasions the place I am like, you type of had an in depth battle with Kelvin. Like, you are not that f***ing good,” Strickland continued. “You are not that f***ing good. You fought f***ing [Paulo] Costa. Costa was scared sh*tless of you. You f***ing blew on him and he fell asleep. Izzy is just not that f***ing good.”
Strickland and Gastelum are associates. They’ve skilled collectively and sparred a number of occasions, however Strickland does not take into account Gastelum within the prime tier of fighters.
“I really like Kelvin. Kelvin is a stand-up man. Once I say you are not that good, I am not speaking about 90 p.c of the roster. I am speaking in regards to the 10 p.c of essentially the most elite guys. That is what I am speaking about, and you are not in that,” Strickland stated. “I really like Kelvin. I believe Kelvin’s a f***ing stud. Hell, Kelvin has crushed two of my teammates. Kelvin is a f***ing stud, however we’re speaking in regards to the prime of the echelon.”
“He (Israel) does not actually have that f***ing canine in him,” Strickland continued. “When he fought Kelvin I used to be like, you let Kelvin have that shut of a battle with you. If I fought Kelvin, Kelvin would not contact me.”
