Israel Adesanya is set to head back to the octagon this weekend to defend his UFC Middleweight Championship against Jared Cannonier, but before he steps foot in the cage he has made some scathing comments towards one of the competitors on the PPV’s undercard.
Adesanya does not usually shy away from controversial comments, and despite the fact that he says he “likes the guy,” he also wouldn’t “spar with an idiot like that.”
The fighter in question is an extremely controversial fighter himself who has been “banned from every social media platform,” according to Michael Bisping.
Here is what Israel Adesanya had to say regarding an undercard fighter on the UFC 276 fight card ahead of the event on Saturday, July 2nd.
Read More: UFC 276: Israel Adesanya, Fight Card, Date, Rumours, UK Time, Tickets and More
Israel Adesanya on Sean Strickland
Israel Adesanya isn't interested in another rematch with Robert Whittaker
Speaking on his YouTube channel (via Sportskeeda) ahead of fight night, Adesanya would have some strong words for Sean Strickland:
"Sean Strickland. He's a bad m***erf***er. Like, literally bad. Rotten apple. But I like the guy, he's funny and he likes to talk sh*t as well.
“And his stand-up, I've seen him do more damage on YouTube in sparring than in his fights. Put it that way. I've seen his sparring footage and I would never spar with an idiot like that.
“I've hurt people in sparring before and I'm just like, 'Sh*t, my bad'. Or I'll pull back with the body shot or whatever but I've seen what he does... He's got many screws loose, many screws loose."
Strickland is set to face the only man who has knocked out Adesanya in kickboxing: Alex Periera, so it is an extremely intriguing bout for fight fans who know the history of ‘The Last Stylebender.’
Read More: UFC 276 Live Stream: How to Watch
Israel Adesanya Next Fight
HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 12: Israel Adesanya of Nigeria looks on in his middleweight championship fight against Robert Whittaker of Australia during UFC 271 at Toyota Center on February 12, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
For context, here is the current fight card for the event according to the UFC website as of Tuesday 28th June 2022:
Early Prelims
- Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Julija Stoliarenko – Women’s Bantamweight Bout
- Dricus du Plessis vs. Brad Tavares – Middleweight Bout
- Jessica Eye vs. Maycee Barber – Women’s Flyweight Bout
- Uriah Hall vs. Andre Muniz – Middleweight Bout
Prelims
- Jim Miller vs Donald Cerrone – Welterweight Bout
- Ian Garry vs Gabriel Green – Welterweight Bout
- Robbie Lawler vs. Bryan Barberena – Welterweight Bout
- Jalin Turner vs. Brad Riddell – Lightweight Bout
Main Card
- Sean O’Malley vs. Pedro Munhoz – Bantamweight Bout
- Sean Strickland vs. Alex Pereira – Middleweight Bout
- UFC Featherweight Championship Bout: Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs. Max Holloway
- UFC Middleweight Championship Bout: Israel Adesanya (c) vs. Jared Cannonier
Read More: UFC 276 betting odds include potential shocks on the night
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