Israel Adesanya: Nigerian star explains 'dream' loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 293

New Zealand Mixed Martial Artist of Nigerian descent Israel Adesanya lost by decision to Sean Strickland at UFC 293.

Izzy gave a lackluster performance and lost the middleweight championship and since there have been rumors of a rematch many have been worried about what will happen to Adesanya next.

Israel Adesanya said he is unconcerned if he is given an instant rematch to regain the championship, though as he claims that the belt was irrelevant to him.

For the first time since UFC 293's post-fight press conference, the two-time UFC middleweight champion reflected on his feelings over his shocking title loss in an interview with his brother David Adesanya that was posted on his YouTube channel.

Israel Adesanya claims that the title is unimportant to him, but there is no denying that he wants to rematch Sean Strickland so that he can demonstrate his superiority over him.

He said, “It wasn’t a nightmare. A nightmare is like, ‘Oh s***, f***.’ A nightmare is like you’re scared.

"It was just like, you try and hit the guy and it just feels like noodle arms. Just like, what the f***?

"So yeah, I just felt like that — like a bad dream. The feeling I had watching it was completely different, and I called [coach] Eugene [Bareman] right afterward and we talked — and same thing, I’m quietly confident.”

Strickland was a huge underdog against Adesanya, but the American's pressure ended up making the difference.

Adesanya is confident in a hypothetical rematch, but he also claims that he didn't feel like himself when they met.