Kevin Holland doesn’t think Sean Strickland poses too big of a threat for Israel Adesanya.
With Dricus Du Plessis seemingly unfit for a quick turnaround, Strickland (27-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) could be next in line to face middleweight champion Adesanya at UFC 293 on Sept. 9 in Sydney.
Whether Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) ends up facing Strickland or Du Plessis next, Holland doesn’t rate either fighter’s chances too highly.
“Either way, I think both of those fights are good fights for Izzy. I don’t see either one of those guys giving Izzy a problem,” Holland told Helen Yee. “Du Plessis has been known to prove us wrong, and he’s fixed his nose, so maybe he’s a better fighter. Sometimes, sh*tty fighters find a way to win and good fighters find a way to lose. But I doubt when Du Plessis goes to fight Izzy that that sh*tty fighter will find a way to win.”
Strickland is coming off back-to-back wins over Nassourdine Imavov and Abus Magomedov. He was able to weather Magomedov’s early storm and stop him by TKO in Round 2, but Holland says Adesanya won’t get tired.
“Styles make fights, and Strickland doesn’t really like to get hit with big kicks and Izzy has cardio,” Holland said. “(Magomedov) didn’t have any, obviously. With Strickland vs. Izzy, Strickland likes to do the man dance – but I don’t think he has enough dance moves to dance with Israel Adesanya.
“I think Izzy picks him apart, Izzy picks Du Plessis apart. It’ll probably be sh*t, little leg kicks, a few push kicks, every once in a while he’ll throw something big and spinning. Izzy has more chances of knocking out Strickland because Strickland will take more chances than Du Plessis does.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.
