UFC 293 may not be the strongest pay-per-view event of 2023, but there are still aspects to appreciate. Israel Adesanya returns to defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland in a bout that seems rather one-sided. Meanwhile, the co-main event between Tai Tuivasa and Alexander Volkov promises to be a fascinating heavyweight contest. The card also includes a Manel Kape showcase and a heavyweight clash between Justin Tafa and Austen Lane.
UFC Middleweight Championship
Israel Adesanya (24-2, 13-2 UFC) takes on Sean Strickland (27-5, 14-5 UFC) as the clear favorite, with odds favoring Adesanya at -650 and Strickland at +470. With his rivalry against Alex Pereira now behind him, Adesanya is focused on defending his middleweight title against all challengers. He quickly transitioned from a successful kickboxing career to a full-time mixed martial artist in 2018, becoming the undisputed middleweight champion in less than 20 months.
Adesanya’s title defenses have been largely one-sided, but his feud with Pereira added some much-needed excitement to his championship run. With Pereira now fighting at light heavyweight, Dricus Du Plessis seemed like the logical next contender after defeating Robert Whittaker in July. However, due to injury, Du Plessis was unable to fight in September, allowing Strickland to step in as Adesanya’s opponent in Sydney.
Strickland’s Unique Approach
After a career-threatening motorcycle accident in 2020, Sean Strickland returned as a much-improved fighter, moving up to middleweight and adopting a pressure-oriented style. Strickland’s unique approach relies on his experience, which stretches back to his teenage years as a pro fighter. He employs an upright stance that allows him to throw out volume and overwhelm opponents, but also forces him to depend on his defensive vision to avoid knockout blows.
Strickland’s 2022 loss to Pereira showcased his commitment to his fighting style, as he boldly marched down an elite kickboxer and ultimately suffered a knockout. He has since rebounded without making significant changes to his approach, and while Adesanya may not possess Pereira’s one-shot power, the outcome of this fight could be quite similar. Adesanya appears well-positioned to inflict significant damage on Strickland, with a third-round knockout being the predicted result.