Adesanya v Strickland UFC 293 betting picks & best odds

The eyes of the MMA world will be on Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, for UFC 293 when reigning middleweight champion Israel Adesanya defends his title against a colourful contender in Sean Strickland. Read on for our full breakdown.

Israel Adesanya v Sean Strickland fight preview

Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland

Israel Adesanya (24-2-0) regained his UFC belt in spectacular fashion when he knocked out long-time nemesis Alex Pereira in April 2023. The bounce-back win cemented Adesanya’s status as the greatest middleweight in UFC history, but he is beatable when sufficiently pressured by a fearless opponent.

Given the Kiwi’s height, reach, and long-range striking abilities, many opponents struggle to solve the Adesanya puzzle. The only way to beat Adesanya is to get in his face, back him up against the cage, and apply unrelenting pressure, as demonstrated by the November 2022 loss.

Sean Strickland (27-5-0) is a fan favourite because of his no-nonsense fighting style, not to mention his antics outside the octagon. The American has earned this title shot by remaining active with five UFC appearances since February 2022, and he employs a high-pressure strategy that might worry the champ.

Strickland likes to walk down his opponents, and that approach overwhelmed Abusupiyan Magomedov when the pair met in July 2023. The opening round was evenly poised, but the Strickland pressure broke Magomedov in the second and he basically hoisted the white flag.

Top sports betting sites give Strickland almost no hope of emerging with the belt, but you can bet the challenger will not be overawed by the occasion. He will not fight tentatively, unless he is being soundly beaten, and might have the tools to deliver a competitive back-and-forth main event.

Still, it is hard to bet against Adesanya, and it seems most likely that he will win it on points.

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