Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will be out to defend his belt against fifth-ranked Sean Strickland in the main event at UFC 293.
The event will take place in Sydney, making it the second time this year that the UFC is in Australia.
The New Zealander of Nigerian origin arrives with a record of 24-2-0 against the American whose record is 27-5-0.
The Adesanya vs Strickland trash talk
Both fighters have already exchanged insults and Strickland, who is known for creating controversy before his battles, even made some homophobic comments against ‘The Last Stylebender’ and his style.
The champion responded by stating he would knock Strickland out with painted nails.
“He’s an idiot, I’m not going to lose to an idiot,” Adesanya said to MMA Fighting.
“He says he’s not going to lose to someone who masturbates to cartoons and paints his nails.
“I’m going to paint my nails for that fight and I’m going to knock him out with my painted nails.”
Adesanya is known for his style that includes fur coats and striking clothing. In addition, on several occasions, he has been seen with his nails painted black or with a French manicure.
For his part, ‘Tarzan’ has his first opportunity to win a main event PPV match. However, while it would be a huge boost to his career, Strickland notes that the UFC middleweight title isn’t that significant to him.
“It’s all bulls**t, man, it’s all f**king bulls**t,” he said, as per Super Luchas.
“I’m in it to get a pay check, and it means a lot to me to fight. It means a lot to me, but it’s a f**king piece of metal.
“Having a piece of metal around my waist doesn’t define me. It doesn’t make me who I am, it doesn’t make me f**king happy.
“It would be nice, but at the end of the day, it’s just a fight. It’s just fun.”
What day is the Adesanya vs Strickland UFC fight?
The Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland fight, which will headline UFC 293, will take place on Saturday, September 9.
Where is the Adesanya vs Strickland fight taking place?
The event will take place at the Qudos Arena in Sydney, Australia.
What time is the Adesanya vs Strickland fight at UFC 293?
The undercard will start at 20:00 ET, while the main card will start at 22:00 ET. As for the main event between Adesanya and Strickland, it is expected to start at 0:15 ET.