“Never LeBron James Money”: Hours After Israel Adesanya’s Expletive-Laden Rant, Demands for Title Fight Laid Out by Sean Strickland in Wild Tirade

Recently, Israel Adesanya revealed his fight vs. Dricus du Plessis is officially off the table. The reigning UFC middleweight champion announced that ‘Stillknocks’ will not be able to fight him at UFC 293. Replacing Du Plessis, Sean Strickland is now under consideration to be the next contender for Adesanya’s coveted UFC middleweight belt. Despite the potential matchup, nothing has been confirmed yet.

He emphasized that he’s not afraid of the challenge and is ready to fight right there if the UFC meets his financial demands. While discussing the possibility of accepting the fight, Strickland empathized with the South African fighter’s concerns about taking the bout on short notice. However, he expressed his own willingness to step up and face ‘The Last Stylebender’, as long as he is adequately compensated for doing so. In fact, Strickland went on to draw an interesting comparison, likening his UFC paycheck to the massive earnings of none other than LeBron James.

Sean Strickland compares UFC money with LeBron James

During an interview with Helen Yee, Sean Strickland reflected on Dricus Du Plessis stepping out of the title fight picture, realizing that he might be the next contender. However, the matchup remains unconfirmed as Strickland demands more money before accepting the fight. Speaking on the matter, Strickland emphatically stated, “You f**king pay me. I fight right here.”

When Yee asked if it’s a money demand like LeBron James’, the 32-year-old clarified, “It’s UFC money. It’s never LeBron James money, guys. We’re in the UFC. We’re talking about, you know, ‘I might be able to put a new lift kit on my truck’ money. I might be able to upgrade my Hyundai Accent to, like, you know… maybe a Ford or Mustang or some car.”

Read more: Israel Adesanya’s Upcoming Fight: Is the UFC MW Champion Going to Face Sean Strickland at UFC 293 After Dricus du Plessis Bout Cancellation?

With a potential title fight within reach, the outspoken fighter revealed his goals if he becomes the champion.

Strickland’s plan for the UFC belt

Later in the conversation, Helen Yee asked the Anaheim native to visualize winning over Israel Adesanya. Responding to which ‘Tarzan’ enthusiastically stated, “I just want to take that belt and I want to put it on my $16,000 Hyundai Accent. It’s gonna make me very happy.”

With Du Plessis seemingly out of the picture for now, Strickland has struck gold with Adesanya’s callout. The #6 ranked middleweight star wanted the title shot after his win at UFC Vegas 76 a few weeks ago. But Du Plessis’ UFC 290 win eclipsed his main event win. Now, the opportunity has found its way back to him.

Having said that, all eyes are on the UFC to make an official announcement for Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland. Do you like this matchup? What are your thoughts on Strickland’s chances to become the champion? Let us know in the comments below.

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