SYDNEY (AP) — American Sean Strickland stunned Nigerian-born New Zealander Israel Adesanya to take the middleweight title by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 293, the first UFC event in Australia's largest city in six years.
I don’t cry much but I’m trying to keep it together right now," an emotional Strickland said immediately after the bout.
Strickland sensed the opportunity to go after the champion and a flurry of punches and kicks in the final minute helped ensure the decision and the middleweight title.
"You don’t fight that guy with that many highlight-reel knockouts,” Strickland said about Adesanya.
In the co-main event, Alexander Volkov (37-10) won his heavyweight bout by submission in the second round against 30-year-old Sydney-born Tai Tuivasa.
Persons:
Sean Strickland, Zealander Israel Adesanya, Strickland, “, Alex Pereira, Adesanya, ” Strickland, “ He’s, he’s, ”, I’ve, Alexander Volkov, Tai Tuivasa, Tuivasa, Tyson Pedro, Sweden's Anton Turkalj, New Zealander Justin Tafa, Austen Lane, Manel Kape, Felipe dos Santos, ___
Organizations:
SYDNEY, UFC, Qudos Bank, New Zealander
Locations:
Zealander, Australia's, American, Australia, New South Wales, Sydney