UFC megastar Israel Adesanya has had his UFC 293 weigh-ins delayed by 15 minutes following a surprise 11th-hour arrival Down Under by company president Dana White.
While UFC executives started the week saying White would not be present for the company’s return to Sydney for the first time in six years, the boss made a shock arrival at the official weigh-ins Friday night at Qudos Bank Arena.
Fox Sports Australia understands the promoter only touched down in Sydney late in the afternoon, and was then whisked straight out to Homebush where the fighters including headliners Adesanya and American Sean Strickland were waiting.
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On the scales, all fighters from the Pay-Per-View section of the card made weight, although Strickland did struggle at the official weigh-ins which were held earlier in the day at the fighter hotel.
The championship challenger was forced to strip naked behind a curtain to hit his mark and suggested afterwards that the “last pound” had been tough to lose.
Looking towards reporters, he said: “That extra pound, you guys, doesn’t seem like a lot, but it kinda sucks.”
By the time of the ceremonials however, the fighter dubbed ‘Tarzan’ was back to his outlandish best – wearing his now signature Crocodile Dundee hat, sprouting about how nobody likes Adesanya and promising to “lose some brain cells” come Sunday.
“You know guys, I’m getting support not because you like me, just because Izzy sucks,” he told the crowd.
“When I represent your country more than Izzy does, it’s easy to support me.
“But I’m going to have a f…ing war for you guys. And I’m going to lose some f…ing brain cells for you f…ing guys.
“Thank you for showing me all the f…ing love. Thank you.”
Adesanya, meanwhile, was again saying little, just as he had done at the press conference a day earlier.
Speaking with Main Event backstage afterwards, the champ described the weight cut as “lightwork, easy” and seemed nonplussed by the fact Strickland had struggled with his own cut.
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Asked if the American’s struggles worked in his favour, Adesanya deadpanned: “I don’t care”
And as for his decision to wear red fight trunks this Sunday?
“Fashion. Probably next purple”.
Adesanya also promised to finish Strickland in a performance that he said will be “art, beautiful art, beautiful violent art”.
So as for a prediction?
“We’ll see,” he said. “But I will finish.”
Soon after, UFC featherweight champ, and new father, Alexander Volkanovski also picked up the microphone and warned Strickland was set to pay for what has effectively been a big week of talk.
“I think he (Adesanya) puts on an absolute clinic,” the champ said.
“Obviously words have been said but that’s the beauty of this sport, when words are said you can actually do something about it. And Izzy is going to do something about it.
“Strickland is definitely wild. Crazy.
“That’s Sean.
“And you never know, is it him, is he putting on a show? But people love it.
“It’s entertaining.
“So we’ll see what happens.”
Despite the craziness of a press conference held in the same venue just 24 hours earlier, there was little drama on the scales, with the biggest headline being the presence of White – who failed to attend UFC 284 in Perth earlier this year.
Elsewhere, the only fighter to weigh in heavy was New Zealand’s Shane Young, who hit the scales 1.7kg over the featherweight limit.
While his fight with Gabriel Miranda is still going ahead, the CKB mainstay will forfeit 30 per cent of his purse.
Asked about the decorative necklace he wore onstage during the official weigh-ins, Adesanya continued: “My uncle Twist, one of my trainers, is a proud Tongan man and he blessed me with that, blessed me with this bracelet, has been making them for all the (CKB) boys.
“It’s about power, it’s about culture, it’s about energy.
“And I’m supported by a lot of love.”
Asked for a final message for the fans, the champ added: “Embrace these moments because we’re making history. Look at what we’re doing.
“I don’t really give a f… about me, embrace ‘we’.
“Just watch what we’re doing.
“Whether you love me or hate me, thank you for supporting the UFC and thank you for supporting my team, City Kickboxing.”
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