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Many inside the MMA world had been shocked to see the adulation Sean Strickland garnered from the Australian followers all through UFC 293 combat week. Regardless of preventing in supposed enemy territory in opposition to New Zealand resident Israel Adesanya, Strickland was greeted by help seemingly in every single place he went, and at instances even gave the impression to be the group favourite forward of his UFC 293 title stunner in Sydney.
Australian and former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, nonetheless, was not shocked to see the contract between the group’s love for the American and Adesanya.
“No, I’d’ve been shocked the opposite manner,” Whittaker stated on The MMA Hour, laughing. “I don’t know, and everyone is aware of I’m not pals with Izzy. I don’t hate the man, however I’m not pals with him by any means. We simply rub one another the improper manner. And he appears to rub lots of people the improper manner. And I’m going to say, Sean, you already know, he was carrying the [Crocodile Dundee] hat. He was carrying the hat. That’s one thing. Possibly that’s all it takes.”
“Everybody has carried out foolish issues, you already know? I assume Sean’s been, I believe, very offensive to lots of people proper? However to not us [in Australia] but,” Whittaker added with one other chuckle. “Possibly we’ve been out of the crosshairs a bit bit, so perhaps that performed a job. However one other factor is, like, the followers and the blokes that confirmed up on Sunday [at UFC 293], they like seeing laborious fights they usually like seeing good fights. Sean went on the market and gave his all and had one of many greatest upsets within the middleweight division.”
Strickland not solely gained the group’s affection, he additionally captured the UFC middleweight title in gorgeous trend, dominating Adesanya from bell to bell over 25 minutes to tug off one of the crucial stunning UFC upsets in current reminiscence. The consequence flipped the 185-pound division on its head in a single day, respiration new life into the title hopes for a wide range of former Adesanya opponents, together with Whittaker.
The consequence additionally scuttled, a minimum of for now, a rivalry between Adesanya and South African contender Dricus Du Plessis that appeared to have all of the makings of a memorable — if ugly — showdown, one which revolved largely across the two middleweights’ disagreements relating to their rights to assert themselves as African-born UFC fighters. However that, too, was considerably of a humorous case for Whittaker, particularly contemplating that Adesanya made questioning Whittaker’s heritage as a New Zealand-born fighter who represents Australia right into a central theme of the build-up to their very own title bout in October 2019 at UFC 243.
“I at all times thought that was humorous, like the talk on the place individuals are from with Dricus and Izzy. I used to be sitting right here like, what?” Whittaker stated. “You understand what I imply? However I additionally noticed Izzy stated sorry about that as properly, like he shouldn’t have carried out that. And I settle for his apology, and also you’re proper, you shouldn’t do issues like that. You must depart that type of stuff out of the enterprise. We’re in right here preventing for residing, we’re modern-day warriors. We don’t have to conduct ourselves like that. I believe you will be happy with representing wherever you need, so long as it’s your own home soil and also you’re proud to take action and also you accomplish that correctly.
“That’s the factor with the way you conduct your self, as a result of don’t suppose for an on the spot — and that is to all of the fighters on the weekend — don’t suppose for an on the spot that you would be able to say one thing immediately, after which 10 years down the observe, it’s not going to return up. Oh, it’ll come up. It’s at all times there, particularly in immediately’s day and age, with recordings and every little thing else. You understand there’s somebody behind the pc display that hates your guts and he’s saved that clip or that quick, and he’s going to throw it in your face if you make one thing, if you’re a large enough identify for it to harm. It’s there. That’s why you’ve bought to conduct your self professionally. We’re professionals, we’re athletes, we receives a commission for this. Achieve this professionally.”
Whittaker finally misplaced to Du Plessis this previous July at UFC 290, placing an finish to a sterling 12-2 run at middleweight that noticed him seize the belt and fall quick solely in opposition to Adesanya.
Nonetheless, the final response from probably the most vocal section of the MMA fan base to Whittaker’s loss sat in stark distinction to the revelry that has seemingly greeted Adesanya’s demise — and that, too, shouldn’t be a shock to the 32-year-old former champion.
“I must say 99 p.c of that was simply love and help [after my loss], however you’ve bought to grasp as properly, it’s not one thing that simply popped up,” Whittaker stated. “It’s as a result of I’ve been sincere in the way in which I’ve performed myself since day one.
“They help me for who I’m, not for simply what I do. And yeah, I’ve bought to say that I must have the perfect followers on the earth, due to their help. I noticed lots of Izzy’s followers and simply feedback and stuff like that, and hey, like attracts like. For those who act a sure manner, you’re going to draw sure folks. I’m very happy with the those that have flocked to me, which have come and supported me.”
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