Dana White confirms UFC 293 Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland title fight

UFC president Dana White on Tuesday announced that middleweight champion Israel Adesanya would next defend his belt opposite No. 5 ranked Sean Strickland. The two will headline UFC 293 on Sept. 9 in Sydney, Australia. 

Adesanya had initially been slated to defend against Dricus du Plessis following the South African’s victory over former titleholder Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July. Though du Plessis took Whittaker out midway through the second round, he did not emerge unscathed.

Despite the win propelling him to the top contender’s spot, du Plessis admitted that he wouldn’t be ready in time to face Adesanya at UFC 293. He bowed out.

With UFC 293 taking place in Sydney, company officials really wanted the Nigerian-born New Zealander to headline the fight card, as Adesanya is quite popular in Australia.

After du Plessis withdrew his name from contention for UFC 293, the focus immediately shifted to Sean Strickland, who had just emerged victorious from a UFC Vegas fight night headlining performance on July 1. 

Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, had recently said the fight was Strickland’s, as long as he could get some visa issues cleared. That apparently happened, as White made the bout official in a video posted on the UFC’s YouTube channel. 

Dana White announced several other UFC 293 bouts, including the co-main event

In addition to Adesanya vs. Strickland taking the main event slot, White announced a few other exciting bouts for the UFC 293 fight card, which marks the promotion’s first trip to Sydney in six years.

Australian heavyweight contender Tai Tuivasa, currently ranked No. 6 in the division, has agreed to face No. 8 ranked Alexander Volkov in the UFC 293 co-main event.

In another featured bout announced for UFC 293, White revealed that No. 5 ranked flyweight Kai Kara-France will square off against No. 10 ranked Manel Kape in Sydney.

Lastly, heavyweights Austen Lane and Justin Tafa will runback their bout from June. That first meeting lasted about 30 seconds before Lane landed an accidental eye poke that rendered Tafa unable to continue.

UFC 287 fight highlights: Israel Adesanya defeats Alex Pereira