Sean O'Malley: Israel Adesanya 'has been the best champ UFC's ever seen'
Sean O'Malley has high praise for UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
O’Malley lauded Adesanya (24-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC) for his activity and the resume he’s compiled as champion. Adesanya defended his belt five times in his first title reign and is gearing for the first defense in his second at UFC 293 on Sept. 9 in Sydney after reclaiming the belt from Alex Pereira in April.
“Izzy has been the best champ UFC’s ever seen,” O’Malley said on his Timbo Sugar Show podcast. “The amount of times he has fought consistently as a champion in the UFC is f*cking legendary. The level of competition (between Adesanya and Anderson Silva), I feel like is not even comparable.”
With Adesanya hinting that Dricus Du Plessis won’t be ready for UFC 293, Sean Strickland could slide into the title opportunity – and O’Malley would love to see it.
“Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland’s probably going to be next,” O’Malley said. (Cannonier) looked f*cking good against Marvin. He beat Sean Strickland but already lost to as Adesanya. I wonder if Jared’s like, ‘What the fuck?’ or you get the game and like, OK, Sean Strickland’s a f*cking character.
“If you’re the UFC, I don’t know if you want Sean Strickland as your UFC champion. His takes – him going on podcasts saying, ‘I crave killing people.’… Izzy vs. Strickland, I’m f*cking hyped for that. I will watch that, I’ll buy that, I’m excited for that. You wouldn’t watch that?”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 293.