A month out from the UFC’s return to Sydney, UFC 293 finally has a main event.

It was confirmed by UFC president Dana White on Tuesday that Sean Strickland will challenge Israel Adesanya for the UFC’s middleweight title in the event set to take place in the Qudus Bank Arena on September 10. The fight takes place as the presumptive number one contender at 185-pounds, Dricus Du Plessis, was unable to make the September date.

Adesanya comes into the bout having regained the middleweight crown in April with a second-round knockout win against Alex Pereira, avenging a defeat against the Brazilian in New York last November (as well as two losses on the kickboxing circuit). Strickland, meanwhile, finds himself in his first world title bout in the UFC having won eight of his last ten, including two wins so far in 2023 after losing to both Pereira and Jared Cannonier last year.

UFC 293 also includes a heavyweight co-main event between Tai Tuivasa and Alexander Volkov as well as what should be a firecracker of a contest between Kai Kara-France and Manel Kape.

Watch the video below to see Dana White discuss the UFC 293 headliner.

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