“I never underestimate anyone,” the Nigerian said in a video posted on his YouTube channel. “I was just thinking back to the second fight between Bisping and Rockhold when Bisping finally beat him by taking the fight on a week and a half notice. Came out and shocked the world. That’s the likely reality. My job is to make sure that reality doesn’t become my reality. It has to be a parallel universe, a different timeline. So yes, I’m well aware of the danger he poses and the aspects that he’s really good at.”
“I’m not taking this fight lightly. I’m not underestimating this guy, but at the same time I’m not overestimating him either. I want to make this fight look easy for me. It’s going to look easy because of the work I’m doing right now and the diligence I’m putting into it. I just know that. Shawn has good defense, he’s got a great jab, and let’s be honest – he’s just crazy. He’s crazy, and that’s the X-factor. But then again, I’m the same way myself.”
As a reminder, the middleweight title fight between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland will be the main event of UFC 293, which takes place on September 9 in Sydney.