Israel Adesanya’s head coach, Eugene Bareman, is calling for an immediate rematch with Sean Strickland after “The Last Stylebender” turned in a head-scratching performance inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
And he wants to do it next weekend.
Adesanya dropped his Middleweight strap (again) at UFC 293 last night (Sat., Sept. 9, 2023), losing a clear-cut unanimous decision to an “idiot” he claimed he might submit ... or knockout with ease.
The clear message: Adesanya believed he could do whatever he wanted to Strickland. And he wasn’t alone in that belief.
Clearly, that didn’t happen. Indeed, there was no manifestation this time “Down Under.” And “The Last Stylebender” didn’t say much after the fight, abruptly leaving UFC’s 293 post-fight press conference and making his coach, Eugene Bareman, speak in his stead.
“I asked Mick [Maynard] if we could have the rematch next weekend,” Bareman told the media. “So, whether he grants it, I’m not sure, but I’m just very confident that we can change the outcome of this fight with very minor adjustments.”
Of course, UFC matchmaker, Mick Maynard, will not have Adesanya rematch Strickland next weekend at Noche UFC, which makes Bareman’s comments all the more strange. And while Bareman wants an immediate rematch (as does Dana White), he admitted that entering a “rematch camp” is very difficult.
“In my career, I’ve been involved in a few rematch camps, and they are very, very difficult,” Bareman said. “Why are they so difficult? Why is the rematch camp so difficult? You’re trying to find other stones to leave unturned, but you’ve already haven’t left the stone unturned. So, it’s like it’s almost an impossible task.
“You’re trying to find another level above the level that you’ve already achieved, but it’s not achievable,” Bareman continued. “So it’s very, very difficult. When you go into these rematch camps, and at this level — I’ve done a few: the [Alex] Pereira one just recently, it’s very, very difficult to do a rematch game. But, like I said, I don’t think we have to change too much. But, we will find something because we have the benefit of time.
“So, we will get down to our usual business as a coaching team,” Bareman concluded. “And we’ll find something to add to this to add to this camp. And we will win the rematch.”
Adesanya has had three rematches thus far in his UFC career: Robert Whittaker, Marvin Vettori and the aforementioned Pereira. He has won all three of them.
Regardless, Bareman might want his fighter to compete next weekend, but it is probably time for the former champion to relax — he has competed three times this year alone.
He needs a break (like this guy).
For complete UFC 293 results, coverage and highlights click HERE.
Get the latest gear
Loading comments...