New Zealand mixed martial artist Israel Adesanya defends his UFC middleweight title against American Sean Strickland in Sydney on Sunday. Photo: UFC
The odds are firmly stacked against him, but that wont dent the confidence of Sean "Tarzan" Strickland one iota as he gets set for his shot at UFC gold on Sunday in Sydney.
Strickland was called on as a late replacement for the headline bout of UFC 293 with two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya after Dricus Du Plessis pulled out.
Sporting a 27-5 record with 11 knockouts, the Californian native sits fifth in the middleweight rankings.
A polarising figure, Strickland often attracts controversy for his homophobic, misogynistic and racially charged comments.
Before the battle in the octagon, a war of words will ensue on Thursday when the pair share a stage for the press conference.
The seeds for the fight were planted at the UFC 276 Press Conference where the two exchanged heated words.
Strickland has been on a verbal tirade against Adesanya ever since.
"Izzy f****** sucks you guys, and the world knows Izzy sucks, we need better class of champion in the UFC," he said in an interview with the promotion.
The controversial American has also brought race into the equation, calling Adesanya a "Chinese man," in reference to the years he spent in the country as a kickboxer.
"I'm more Australian and New Zealand that Izzy is."
Strickland has lost two of his last four fights against opponents Adesanya has beaten in Alex Pereira and Jared Cannonier.
Israel Adesnaya will take on the controversial Strickland in Sydney. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
However, he bounced back from his brutal KO loss to Pereira with an impressive second round stoppage of Abus Magomedov in July and is now riding a two fight winning streak.
"I'm one of the best fighters in the world. I'm gonna go in there and punch that f***** right in the face. Nobody trains with me and says 'oh I want to fight that guy."
Strickland turned pro as a teenager and has been a mainstay in the UFC for nearly a decade.
"I'm one of the hardest working guys in the UFC, MMA is my purpose, it's my therapy, its my job, it's my calling."
Strickland said he harboured a lot of anger as a youth after growing up with what he describess as an abusive, alcoholic father
However, the first time he walked in a gym, his anger washed away.
"I always joke that if you could dodge a beer bottle you could dodge a punch."
Strickland's coach Eric Nicksick told UFC Embedded that Strickland has world class work ethic.
"He loves the fight game, he trains like no-one else, he will go in there and have a fist fight for five rounds, insanity breeds a level of self belief that most people don't walk around with."
Nicksick believes the path to victory becomes easier the longer the fight goes on.
"He's a freakishly strong human being, combine that with a freakish gas tank, if he makes this ugly, Sean wins."
Former middleweight champion turned commentator Michael Bisping perhaps summed up the Stickland threat best.
"There is definitely a screw loose, but I think that helps him when he fights."
Strickland is promising a spectacle.
"Me and Izzy are going to have a war."
