UFC 312’s Sean Strickland Shows Respect To Israel Adesanya Following TKO Loss: ‘You’re A Lasting Name In The Sport’

Respect!

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Sean Strickland tried to reclaim his title at UFC 312 this weekend (Sat., Feb. 8, 2025) as he rematches 185 kingpin Dricus Du Plessis from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

While doing media obligations to promote his fight, “Tarzan” was asked about his rival Israel Adesanya’s recent stoppage loss (watch it) to Nassourdine Imavov that went down this past weekend at UFC Saudi Arabia.

FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA. “He made his legacy. If you want to continue to fight, continue to fight. But you’ve done what you wanted to do. You don’t really have to prove anything. You’re a lasting name in the sport. You’ve chiseled your name in it, no shame. Getting older, it happens, you know?”

Strickland’s respect for Adesanya is a welcomed surprise as it would have been very easy to kick him while he’s down, you know, especially after all of the trash that they talked to each other before and after Strickland took the belt off of “The Last Stylebender.”

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MIDDLEWEIGHT REMATCH! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) continues its 2025 pay-per-view (PPV) schedule on Sat., Feb. 8, with a rematch between 185-pound kingpin, Dricus du Plessis, running it back against the man he lifted the belt off little more than one year ago, Sean Strickland, in the five-round main event. In UFC 312’s championship co-headliner from inside Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, women’s Strawweight roost-ruler, Zhang Weili, will defend her belt against undefeated (and oft-injured) 115-pound contender, Tatiana Suarez. UFC 312 will also feature a hard-hitting Heavyweight battle between Justin Tafa vs. Talisson Teixeira, alongside a Light Heavyweight showdown with Jimmy Crute facing Rodolfo Bellato, and so much more! UFC 312’s start time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (“Prelims” undercard) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV main card).

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching action!

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 312 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN2/Disney+/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, before the main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 312: “du Plessis vs. Strickland 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.