Sean Strickland achieved one of the more unexpected title-fight upsets in recent memory Saturday when he dethroned Israel Adesanya in the UFC 293 headliner.
Strickland (28-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) came into enemy territory on Adesanya’s (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) side of the world and pulled off a significant upset to claim the middleweight title by unanimous decision at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Strickland’s title-winning upset of Adesanya at UFC 293.
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MMA Junkie
IT'S MAIN EVENT TIME.
Who you got, Israel Adesanya or Sean Strickland?#UFC293 | Full coverage: https://t.co/ETWCm0zxpO pic.twitter.com/coFA5tN5z2
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 10, 2023
UFC
Looking to shock the world tonight 😤#UFC293 | @SStricklandMMA pic.twitter.com/uLT8eQde1Y
— UFC (@ufc) September 10, 2023
UFC
Calm as can be headed into this one 👊#UFC293| @Stylebender pic.twitter.com/0YfTm3TfBs
— UFC (@ufc) September 10, 2023
UFC
Israel Adesanya enters for the #UFC293 main event with some extra pep in his step. pic.twitter.com/l4g7zioUgo
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 10, 2023
Ben Askren
Having a hard time seeing how Strickland wins this one, prob gonna be a showcase of skills by Izzy
— Funky (@Benaskren) September 10, 2023
UFC
NO TOUCH ❌ #UFC293 pic.twitter.com/dFpK4ZgCHr
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 10, 2023
Andre Fili
Style Bender looks locked in the zone. #ufc293
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) September 10, 2023
Derek Brunson
This year has been weird for mma upsets . That’s all I’m going to say . Let’s watch ! #ufc293
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 10, 2023
Aaron Bronsteter
10-9 Strickland as he lands a barrage against Adesanya late in the round with many clean strikes getting through.
Israel signalled to Marc Goddard that he was good and he gets out of the round.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 10, 2023
Michael Bisping
Holy shit!!! Haha did not see that.
— michael (@bisping) September 10, 2023
Ben Askren
Holy hell how did Izzy survive that!!!
— Funky (@Benaskren) September 10, 2023
UFC
STRICKLAND DROPS ADESANYA 🤯#UFC293
— UFC (@ufc) September 10, 2023
Brad Tavares
LFG @SStricklandMMA even before the drop, I had Sean taking that round. Almost had the finish #Ufc293
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) September 10, 2023
Chuck Mindenhall
Wow. This is playing out most interestingly.
— Chuck Mindenhall (@ChuckMindenhall) September 10, 2023
UFC
SCENES IN SYDNEY AS THE CHAMPION IS ROCKED! 🤯
Sean Strickland just dropped Israel Adesanya to close out the first round! #UFC293 pic.twitter.com/LOBfwcOCWe
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 10, 2023
Alan Jouban
Sean has a way of deflecting a lot of strikes and so far it’s working really well against Izzy’s style. #UFC293
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 10, 2023
Sean Sheehan
The pressure isn't working at well in round 2. Izzy isn't getting caught against the cage nearly as easily. #UFC293
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) September 10, 2023
Derek Brunson
This fight has Silva v Weidman vibes . Izzy hands are unusually low tonight ! #UFC293
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 10, 2023
Andre Fili
1-1 going into the 3rd. Styles make fights. And this one is wild. #ufc293
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) September 10, 2023
Ryan Clark
Whoa!! Strickland bout shocked the world! @ufc we got a fight. Izzy better get stupid in there
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) September 10, 2023
Luke Thomas
Better round for Izzy.
Lots of rhythm disruption with leg kicks and body jabs. Strickland mostly reacting that frame.
19-19 after 2
— Luke Thomas🏋️♀️ (@lthomasnews) September 10, 2023
Sodiq Yusuff
This sport is fucking stupid
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) September 10, 2023
Dricus Du Plessis
You can be so glad I’m not the one in there with you tonight #ufc293
— Dricus Du Plessis (@dricusduplessis) September 10, 2023
Brad Tavares
Eric corner advice on POINT👌🏾 Izzy is snake charming right now. Gotta turn it up @SStricklandMMA #ufc293
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) September 10, 2023
Michael Bisping
2-1 Strickland.
— michael (@bisping) September 10, 2023
UFC
We're off to championship rounds 🤜🤛
Who do you have up on the scorecards? pic.twitter.com/wSWDM50Lc1
— UFC (@ufc) September 10, 2023
Alan Jouban
2-1 Sean. #UFC293
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 10, 2023
Aljamain Sterling
Can’t wait to recap this main event. Something about counter fighters vs pressure fighters. #UFC293
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 10, 2023
Robert Whittaker
2-1 Strickland #ufc293
— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) September 10, 2023
UFC
Strickland's coach did not come here looking for the decision 👀 #UFC293 pic.twitter.com/q27dxpT42f
— UFC (@ufc) September 10, 2023
Jimi Manuwa
We didn’t thus it was gonna be this close did we #UFC293
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) September 10, 2023
Michael Carroll
(Unofficial) head strike accuracy through 3.5 rounds:
44% – Strickland
12% – Adesanya#UFC293— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) September 10, 2023
King Typo
Look at this. Izzy does a ton of work to get off the cage, and then Sean just walks after him and he's RIGHT BACK ON IT. Sean isn't even cutting him off! He's doing it to himself!
— King Typo (@BoxingBusch) September 10, 2023
Mike Bohn
One round left. Israel Adesanya likely need to finish Sean Strickland to keep his UFC middleweight title. Can’t believe I just typed that. Sean fighting beautifully. #UFC293
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) September 10, 2023
Fight Ghost
Sean Strickland -250 live fave entering round 5. First title defense at UFC APEX in December ? #UFC293
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) September 10, 2023
John Morgan
Wow, man. Strickland has come out here and absolutely delivered. Unreal. Final five minutes going to be tense!! #UFC293
— John Morgan (@JohnMorgan_MMA) September 10, 2023
Brett Okamoto
3-1 Strickland. If anyone can land a R5 knockout it's Israel, but he has generated next to zero offense this entire fight. Strickland is just beating him. This will be the biggest upset in UFC 185 pound title fight history if Strickland gets it done.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 10, 2023
Glover Teixeira
Let’s go Strickland
— glover teixeira (@gloverteixeira) September 10, 2023
Teddy Atlas
I’m not saying it’s as big as Buster- Tyson, but it’s pretty big. 3-1 Strickland #UFC293
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) September 10, 2023
Brian Kelleher
Strickland defensive skill and awareness is very impressive. And this is against one of the best strikers in the world
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) September 10, 2023
Casey O'Neiil
This is crazy ! 🤯 #UFC293
— Casey Oneill (@kingcaseymma) September 10, 2023
Justin Gaethje
Sean is fighting fantastic honestly. Could be up 3-1 but Izzy could be 2-2. Crazy sport.
— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) September 10, 2023
UFC
Is Sean Strickland to become UFC champion? 🤯 #UFC293 pic.twitter.com/MKIj8feDD8
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 10, 2023
MMA Junkie
#UFC293 results: Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) def. Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) – to win middleweight title
Full coverage: https://t.co/ETWCm0zxpO pic.twitter.com/PZvek8KQv3
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) September 10, 2023
Mike Bohn
Israel Adesanya has left the octagon and headed backstage. No in-cage interview. #UFC293
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) September 10, 2023
Jan Blanchowicz
If something looks stupid, but works, it's not stupid. I guess ;). #UFC293
— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) September 10, 2023
Paulo Costa
all chinese lost their belts
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) September 10, 2023
UFC
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. 😳
🏆 SEAN STRICKLAND HAS SHOCKED THE WORLD TO BECOME CHAMPION! #UFC293 pic.twitter.com/sKnUKMLNic
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 10, 2023
UFC
Sean Strickland has done the unthinkable! 😤
He is now the NEW UFC middleweight champion! #AndNew #UFC293 pic.twitter.com/DFDbLRR5Mf
— UFC_AUSNZ (@UFC_AUSNZ) September 10, 2023
Alex Pereira
I told u guys – but nobody believed me !
Congrats @SStricklandMMA 🏆. You deserve it !!!— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) September 10, 2023
Dustin Poirier
Unbelievable… MMA is the craziest sport in the world. I Fucking love this.
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 10, 2023
UFC
Your eyes are not decieving you! 😳
🇺🇸🏆 @SStricklandMMA is the NEW middleweight champion of the world! #UFC293 pic.twitter.com/j7A1yuO4tZ
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) September 10, 2023
Robert Whittaker
The division has movement. Congrats @SStricklandMMA great fight mate. Can’t wait for the future 👊🏽
— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) September 10, 2023
UFC
“I’m still waiting to wake up”@SStricklandMMA is living the dream after #UFC293 🏆 pic.twitter.com/VOLxMSxw1n
— UFC (@ufc) September 10, 2023
