LAS VEGAS – Israel Adesanya thinks Sean Strickland has to fight Alex Pereira with confidence or he could be in trouble.
Strickland (25-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) faces Pereira (5-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC 276 main card in what is thought to be a No. 1 contender fight at middleweight.
Oddsmakers have Strickland as the betting underdog against Pereira and UFC middleweight champion Adesanya (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) can see a scenario in which his former kickboxing foe puts it on Strickland.
“If I’m being honest, he might get f*cked up, Strickland,” Adesanya told reporters Wednesday at UFC 276 media day. “If he doesn’t fight with his ego, he’ll get f*cked up.”
Strickland is unapologetically outspoken, which has made him one of the most polarizing fighters on the UFC roster. Adesanya can relate to him to some extent, which is why he respects him.
“I like Sean Strickland,” Adesanya said. “He’s like the little step-brother I never wanted. It’s a weird, like, respect. I respect the guy because he just speaks his mind. I speak my mind, too, but he speaks his mind regardless of the repercussions. We’re under the same Paradigm management team, and I’m sure sometimes they have a headache with some of the stuff he puts out, but I respect the fact that he speaks his truth whether I like it or not. You know, freedom of speech is the right in the great US&A, so I respect that.”
Adesanya headlines Saturday’s event when he faces Jared Cannonier at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ABC/ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Check out the full media day interview with Adesanya in the video above.
