Israel Adesanya has set his sights on a second showdown with Sean Strickland, naming him as the top contender for his highly anticipated UFC return in late 2025.
The Nigerian-born New Zealander is planning a comeback to the octagon around mid-September or October, with a strong desire to settle scores with Strickland after their clash at UFC 293.
It was during that event that Strickland stunned the MMA world by defeating Adesanya to capture the middleweight belt, sending “The Last Stylebender” into a three-fight skid that he’s still trying to recover from.
“Most likely, I’m gonna guess to mid-September, October,” Adesanya told Ariel Helwani regarding his comeback date.
“Sean. No question. He lost his last fight. I lost my fight. And it’s like, ‘Alright. Cool. Want a rematch?’”
Despite his clear intentions, Adesanya has voiced annoyance at Strickland’s silence, wondering why the American fighter hasn’t responded to the challenge.
Adesanya’s announcement follows shortly after he was honoured with one of MMA’s most prestigious recognitions—induction into the UFC Hall of Fame.
The ceremony was held Thursday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
His unforgettable 2019 bout against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 was immortalised in the Hall’s Fight Wing, joining an elite list of legendary matchups in UFC history.
That five-round war for the interim middleweight title, which Adesanya won via unanimous decision, is widely hailed as one of the most iconic fights ever seen in the octagon, and marked a defining moment in his path to becoming champion.
“Very grateful. I knew that was a special fight, a special moment in combat sports history,” Adesanya told The Mac Life when the Hall of Fame selection was first announced in February.
“I even said on the camera when they had the cameras on me in the stadium, I said, ‘Hey Kelvin, that was us’ because it takes two to tango. That man can salsa.”
One of the most unforgettable moments in UFC lore came during that fight, when Adesanya famously told his corner he was ready to die in the cage before the final round.
It was a statement that instantly became a symbol of his warrior mindset and commitment.
“That was the realest moment I think I’ve ever had in the cage,” Adesanya said.
“I meant every single word of it, and I returned the favour by trying to kill him. And he’s a hard man to kill. In the moment, I wasn’t scared, I wasn’t scared of death. I just thought, ‘if this is how I go out, this is how I go out — but I’m going to die trying.’”
UFC CEO Dana White has long praised the encounter, previously describing it as one of the best fights he’s ever witnessed.
“This was an absolute war with the interim title on the line. Congrats to Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum on a fight that will always be remembered!”
