UFC: Israel Adesanya Details Mindset in Sean Strickland Loss: "If I Die, I Die"

The former UFC champion was prepared to go out on his shield against Strickland.

Israel Adesanya claims he had to be talked out of recklessly chasing a finish late in his matchup with Sean Strickland at UFC 293.

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One of the biggest stars on the UFC roster, “The Last Stylebender” successfully defended the promotion’s middleweight belt five times during his initial run as champion and reclaimed the title from his former kickboxing rival Alex Pereira when the pair met at UFC 287 early last year.

Adesanya's second title reign was short-lived thanks to the massive upset Strickland pulled off at UFC 293, and during a recent conversation with Teddy Atlas the former champion explained how his mindset changed as that bout went on.

Adesanya had few moments of success during the fight with Strickland.  :: (Jasmin Frank/USA TODAY Sports)

“I never lost hope,” Adesanya explained on his YouTube channel. “I went back to the corner…Round three or round four- whatever it was- I was like ‘Right, we go this round. We must go this round.’ Even like when I asked Eugene [Bareman] in the fifth round…I said 'Should I just go?' And he’s like 'No, let’s be tactical.’”

A sizeable favorite heading into his title defense against Strickland at UFC 293, Adesanya took the second round on all three scorecards but lost every other round en route to a lopsided unanimous decision that cost him his middleweight belt.

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While he wasn’t about to go against the advice of his longtime head coach, “The Last Stylebender” admits that he realized how far behind he was on the scorecards even as the fight with Strickland was still ongoing.

Strickland largely outstruck Adesanya to claim the UFC middleweight title.  :: (Jasmin Frank/USA TODAY Sports)

“It kind of was like ‘F*** it, let’s go.’ Like if I die, I die. Go out on your shield. Kill or be killed. But then Eugene was like ‘No, let’s be tactical.’ And it got to the point where I realized ‘All right, this fight is getting away from me.’ And it got to a point where I felt like ‘Damn, it’s too far gone.’”

The fight with Strickland was just the third loss of Adesanya’s MMA career, and not long after UFC 293 the former middleweight king surprised fans by announcing that he was planning on taking an extended break from fighting.

As shocking as Strickland’s victory was, it did breathe some new life into a middleweight division that had been largely dominated by Adesanya over the last several years. Strickland is now set to defend his middleweight belt for the first time at UFC 297 against Dricus Du Plessis, who is currently the promotion’s #2-ranked middleweight contender.

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