Israel Adesanya (image via UFC/YouTube).

By FCF Staff

Israel Adesanya is adamant he won’t be looking past Sean Strickland when he battles him at UFC 293. But, the middleweight champ also insists he’s going to cruise to victory at the event.

Strickland has been booked to fight Adesanya at the September 10th event, which is taking place in Sydney, Australia.  Dricus Du Plessis was expected to fight the champion next, on account of his recent stoppage win over Robert Whittaker. But, due to a persistent foot injury, Du Plessis couldn’t commit to fighting at UFC 293.

As it stands right now, Adesanya is a considerable favorite to win the bout, with odds ranging from -455 to -510. But, while discussing the match-up recently via his YouTube channel, Adesanya reported he isn’t underestimating the contender (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“I never underestimate anyone. I was just thinking about [Michael] Bisping vs. [Luke] Rockhold [2] when Bisping finally beat him, took the fight on like 1.5 weeks’ notice or something, two weeks’ notice. Goes in there, shocks the world. That’s a possible reality. My job is to make sure it’s not in this reality. That’s another parallel universe, another timeline. So like, yeah. I’m very aware of the dangers that he brings and the stuff that he’s really good at.

“I don’t take this lightly. You guys will see me, see I’ve been working. I’m not underestimating this guy but at the same time, I’m not overestimating him. I want to make this look easy. I’m gonna make this look easy cause of the work that we’re doing right now and the way that I’m working right now. I just know.”

Strickland (27-5) is coming off consecutive wins over Abusupiyan Magomedov and Nassourdine Imavov, following defeats to Jared Cannonier and Alex Pereira.

Adesanya (24-2), meanwhile, avenged his previous losses to the aforementioned Pereira in April, by knocking him out in round two.