Qudos Arena in Sydney, Australia, is the home of the UFC 293, which features superb fights, one of them for the middleweight title, between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland.
Apart from this event, Tai Tuivasa and Alexander Volkov share the ring in a heavyweight spectacle.
Adesanya VS Strickland Preview
It goes without saying that Adesanya is the natural successor to Anderson Silva. With reflexes that far surpass anyone else in his division, his lean and athletic structure gives him a noticeable advantage over his enemies. Couple that with his tactical discipline and high fighting IQ, and you have a fighter who rarely makes mistakes.
The Last Stylebender spectacularly reclaimed his belt, defeating his long-time nemesis Alex Pereira at UFC 287, stopping a three-match losing streak against the Poatan.
Strickland had initially been in line to challenge Adesanya in 2022, but Alex Pereira jumped in and stole the spotlight. Tarzan’s clash with Poatan ended in a devastating first-round knockout, as the Brazilian showed why his nickname means “stone hands.”
Adesanya understands what's on the line at #UFC293 😤 pic.twitter.com/Hzi4QveYSJ
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 7, 2023
Strickland is a force to be reckoned with in his own right. A remarkable boxer with a relentless pace and exceptional cardio, he constantly puts pressure on his opponents. While his ground game may not be his strong suit, Strickland’s solid takedown defense ensures he can hold his own.
Still, even though he is one of the best in the division, in our opinion, Strickland can’t match Izzy right now. Adesanya’s longer reach and the fact that he doesn’t have to worry about takedowns are something that will take much of the pressure from the champion, who prefers to fight in the standup. Our pick here is easy: Adesanya wins, probably via decision.
Pick: Adesanya 1/7 wins at BetXchange
Tuivasa VS Volkov Preview
Tuivasa survived two losses following the five-match winning streak that saw him KO rivals like Greg Hardy, Augusto Sakai, and Stefan Struve. Though, he would afterward suffer the same destiny against Ciryl Gane and Sergei Pavlovich. Bam Bam isn’t very gifted in terms of physique, but his bursts are fantastic, and if he manages to reach the rival’s chin, that’s a 50-50 position for a KO.
Volkov has an impressive 80-inch reach, and possesses the skillset and experience of a veteran, far more extensive than Tuivasa. His record against top-notch opponents speaks volumes about his abilities in the cage. While he may not hold a championship belt, Volkov has consistently proven himself against the cream of the crop in his division. In his last two fights against Jairinzho Rozenstruik and Alexander Romanov, Volkov displayed his mastery with two first-round knockout victories. By the way, this guy has 24 KO wins.
Volkov’s reach will be a massive advantage for the Russian. Tuivasa risks exposing himself to punishing jabs and body kicks with each attempt to land a significant strike. Volkov’s leg kicks will keep the distance between him and the rival, which is why, overall, we strongly believe in his triumph here.
Pick: Volkov 1/3 at BetXchange
Tafa VS Lane
Just three months ago, the bout between these two was cut short due to an unfortunate eye poke. However, they are ready to go all out this time, showcasing their thunderous strikes and relentless aggression.
Despite Tafa being shorter, his striking power and experience cannot be overlooked. On the other hand, Lane secured his UFC contract through his impressive performances in Dana White’s Contender Series, but he still has much to learn and develop in his fighting career.
For the time being, Tafa seems like a better fighter, and he will be our pick in this case.
Pick: Tafa 2/5 at BetXchange
