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Tag: Sean Strickland

  • Sean Strickland: “The FCC overstepped with Jimmy Kimmel”

    Sean Strickland: “The FCC overstepped with Jimmy Kimmel”

    UFC fighter Sean Strickland has given his thoughts on the ongoing controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel.

    As we know, Sean Strickland has never been afraid to speak his mind. In fact, he thrives on putting himself in the spotlight, often for saying things that people find quite offensive. Jimmy Kimmel, meanwhile, is a late night TV host who was recently pulled off the air as a result of comments he made about US president Donald Trump.

    The issue of free speech is something that has been at the forefront of this ordeal over the course of the last few days. Sean Strickland, of course, advocates for free speech, but he also doesn’t seem to be the biggest fan of Kimmel.

    In a series of tweets, Sean Strickland had some interesting things to say on the subject.

    Sean Strickland’s view on Jimmy Kimmel

    “Unpopular take but the FCC overstepped with Jimmy Kimmel… 

    “He didnt get canceled. ABC was threatened by FCC Chair appointed by Trump on a podcast

    “F*** Jimmy Kimmel but the government shouldn’t be used as a political weapon.”

    “On that podcast, FCC Chair Brendan Carr discussed Jimmy Kimmel’s recent remarks and said broadcasters need to respond (either “the easy way or the hard way”) or else the FCC might take regulatory steps…..”

    “Yall need to press the AI button before you post. The FCC publicly pressured ABC. 

    “FCC Chair Brendan Carr discussed Jimmy Kimmel’s recent remarks and said broadcasters need to respond either the easy way or the hard way or else the FCC might take regulatory steps

    “F***Jimmybtw”.

  • ‘M*rder Of A Future President’ – Charlie Kirk’s Horrifying Assassination In Utah Devastates Combat Sports Community

    ‘M*rder Of A Future President’ – Charlie Kirk’s Horrifying Assassination In Utah Devastates Combat Sports Community

    Charlie Kirk’s brutal assassination stunned society, touching even the combat sports world.

    On Wednesday afternoon, right-wing activist Kirk was swept into the escalating political violence gripping America as he was gunned down during an event at the Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus.

    The U.S. President Donald Trump’s staunch supporter was speaking to students in a campus Q&A beneath a white gazebo when a single gunshot tore through the air. Kirk clutched his neck as blood poured from the left side, while horrified onlookers scattered in terror.

    Kirk was immediately taken to a hospital in a private vehicle, but Trump later confirmed on social media that he had succumbed to his injuries. The Republican leader further declared that, in honor of the late Turning Point USA co-founder, all American flags nationwide would be lowered to half-mast until Sunday evening.

    Jake Paul, Sean Strickland And Others In Combat Sports React To Charlie Kirk Shooting

    After confirmation of Charlie Kirk’s death from a gunshot, numerous prominent figures in the combat sports world took to social media to react. Some described the attack as a deliberate attempt to silence conservative voices in the U.S., while others blamed what they called the broader leftist ecosystem for his death.

    YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul:

    UFC middleweight veteran Tim Kennedy:

    Former UFC 185-pound champion Sean Strickland:

    UFC lightweight Renato Moicano:

    Dominance MMA founder Ali Abdelaziz:

    https://twitter.com/AliAbdelaziz00/status/1965866402843357486

    Former WBC interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia:

    UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell:

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling:

    UFC lightweight veteran Jared Gordon:

    Former UFC welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns:

    Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes:

    Veteran MMA referee Marc Goddard:

    UFC flyweight Charles Johnson:

    Former UFC interim 170-pound titleholder Colby Covington:

    UFC 155-pounder Terrance McKinney:

    Former UFC middleweight title challenger Paulo Costa:

    UFC featherweight Sodiq Yusuff:

    https://twitter.com/Super_Sodiq/status/1965863554617393659

    PFL light heavyweight star Derek Brunson:

    Former UFC 185-pound title challenger Marvin Vettori:

    Former UFC lightweight Josh Thomson:

    Former Strikeforce middleweight champ Jake Shields:

    MMA coach Tim Welch:

    UFC middleweight star Bo Nickal:

    While Charlie Kirk’s assailant remains unidentified, authorities are actively investigating. Initially, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that a suspect was in custody, but he later clarified that the individual had been released following questioning.

    He added that the FBI continues to work closely with local law enforcement to uncover the circumstances surrounding the attack.

    Image: @charliekirk1776/Instagram

  • Sean Strickland Reacts To Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Being Shot Dead In Utah – ‘I’m Just Numb’

    Sean Strickland Reacts To Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Being Shot Dead In Utah – ‘I’m Just Numb’

    Sean Strickland has a hardline reaction to Charlie Kirk being publicly shot.

    On Wednesday, conservative activist and prominent U.S. president Donald Trump supporter Kirk was caught up in the latest surge of political violence in the U.S. when he was shot during an event at the Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus.

    The Turning Point USA co-founder was speaking to students during a Q&A at a public gathering on campus under a white tent when a single gunshot pierced the air. Kirk was seen clutching his neck as blood poured from the left side, while onlookers tried to flee the scene in panic.

    Check out the video of the incident below (viewer discretion advised):

    Shortly after the shooting, Trump confirmed on social media that Kirk had died from his injuries. He also announced that, in honor of the late 31-year-old Illinois native, all American flags across the U.S. would be flown at half-mast until Sunday evening.

    Authorities initially apprehended someone in connection with the shooting, but a university spokesperson later confirmed to the media that the suspect is still not in police custody.

    Image: @charliekirk1776/Instagram

    Sean Strickland Comments On Charlie Kirk Being Shot

    After videos of Charlie Kirk’s shooting surfaced online, a fan on X asked Sean Strickland for his take on the incident. The former UFC middleweight champion responded in a figurative and confrontational manner.

    “Yeah man, it’s f**ked up, but a very wise Roman philosopher once said, ‘The best way to vote is with a gun.’” Strickland replied.

    https://twitter.com/SStricklandMMA/status/1965855748661146080

    In another post, the polarizing UFC star, referring to multiple violent events, admitted that he has become desensitized to the relentless exposure to online violence.

    “I’m just numb to seeing people die online. The entire world watched a Ukrainian girl get murdered.Every day, someone is getting murdered live-streamed. We see Russians merked by drones. Just numb to tragedy in 2025. Welcome to the internet. The erosion of humanity, one reel at a time,” Sean Strickland posted.

    Strickland was last seen in action at UFC 312 this past February, falling short in his attempt to regain the middleweight title after suffering a lopsided unanimous decision loss to then-champion Dricus Du Plessis.

    “Tarzan” is currently suspended from competition for six months by the Nevada Athletic Commission, until December 29, following an incident at the June 28 Tuff-N-Uff event in Las Vegas, during which he entered the cage and attacked fighter Luis Hernandez.

    Sean Strickland
    Image: UFC.com
  • Alex Pereira Calls In Help from Ex-Rival Sean Strickland For Upcoming Title Match

    Alex Pereira Calls In Help from Ex-Rival Sean Strickland For Upcoming Title Match

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has revealed that he is training with former foe Sean Strickland ahead of his rematch with Magomed Ankalaev.

    As we know, Alex Pereira is set to challenge Magomed Ankalaev for the UFC light heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 320. It comes after Ankalaev won the belt from ‘Poatan’, with many wondering whether or not the Brazilian had the skills necessary to overcome the new champion in a rematch. Regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, we’re going to find out the answer sooner rather than later.

    Alex Pereira’s big problem, in the eyes of many, is that he simply can’t deal with Ankalaev on the ground. As you can imagine, he’ll be doing everything in his power to rectify that problem ahead of fight night.

    In a recent video released by Alex Pereira, he revealed that he’s been training with former opponent Sean Strickland.

    Alex Pereira calls in Sean Strickland

    It’s certainly going to be interesting to see whether or not this is going to have a big impact on Pereira and how he approaches this fight. Strickland isn’t particularly known for his wrestling prowess, but he’s definitely the right kind of fighter to have around when you’re viewed as an underdog in a world title fight.

    It’s always great to see former rivals putting their differences aside to train with each other, and it’ll be interesting to see how long they keep up this partnership.

  • Sean Strickland Explains Why Caio Borralho is “An Idiot” Over Weight Cutting

    Sean Strickland Explains Why Caio Borralho is “An Idiot” Over Weight Cutting

    UFC star Sean Strickland has questioned Caio Borralho for opting to cut weight twice ahead of UFC Paris – once to serve as back-up for the UFC 319 main event.

    If there’s one thing we know to be true about Sean Strickland, it’s that he doesn’t hold back when giving his opinion. He is someone who has a lot of interesting views both in and outside of mixed martial arts, and he isn’t afraid to voice them.

    Last weekend, Caio Borralho attempted to earn himself a UFC middleweight title shot – but fell short. He lost to Nassourdine Imavov in what proved to be a fairly one-sided fight at UFC Paris, and Sean Strickland was one of many who was left surprised by the performance that the Brazilian produced.

    In a recent tweet, Sean Strickland had the following to say about Borralho’s outing in the French capital.

    Sean Strickland’s view on Caio Borralho at UFC Paris

    “Caio is my buddy but hes an idiot. He trained with us and was useless.  

    “Me “whats wrong with you”

    “Caio “Im cutting, im an alternate”

    “So you’re giving up 4 weeks of your camp cutting weight twice while having a fight coming up? 

    “Whoever told you to do that, please hit him.”

    “It was so frustrating I wanted to hit him.. I didnt say anything because I wanted to keep his spirits up but he really took some bad advice from someone. That fight wasnt him. It was missing 4 weeks of training cutting weight twice.”

  • Raja Jackson’s Attack On Pro Wrestler Syko Stu Prompts Sean Strickland To Advocate ‘Rehabilitation Over Prison’

    Raja Jackson’s Attack On Pro Wrestler Syko Stu Prompts Sean Strickland To Advocate ‘Rehabilitation Over Prison’

    Sean Strickland shared an opinion on Raja Jackson’s incident that some may find shocking.

    Last Saturday in Los Angeles, Jackson attended a KnokX Pro Wrestling event while live-streaming it on his KICK channel, where he had a tense backstage confrontation with wrestler Stuart Smith, AKA Syko Stu. He then got the go-ahead from the promotion to perform a staged double-leg takedown and simulate an assault on Stu as a response to the earlier altercation.

    However, as the match started, a scripted storyline meant to mix fiction with reality, common in pro wrestling, quickly spiraled out of control. Jackson carried his backstage tension into the ring and, seemingly provoked by his stream viewers, slammed Stu onto the canvas and unleashed a flurry of heavy, unanswered punches before other wrestlers stepped in to pull him off.

    Stu’s brother, Andrew Smith, has been keeping fans informed through Facebook posts, sharing on Monday that the U.S. Army veteran turned wrestler is now conscious and retains some memory of the events from the day of the attack.

    Meanwhile, Raja Jackson has drawn widespread criticism from the combat sports community and the public for his shocking actions, yet Strickland has offered a polarizing perspective.

    Sean Strickland Believes Jail Isn’t The Answer For Raja Jackson After Brutal Attack

    Amid media reports that the Los Angeles Police Department is investigating Raja Jackson’s attack on Syko Stu, Sean Strickland took to social media to weigh in. The former UFC middleweight champion suggested that while Jackson should face consequences, but the best course of action would be rehabilitation rather than prison.

    Drawing from his own experiences, Strickland argued that prison often hardens people instead of rehabilitating them and suggested that MMA legend Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s son should be offered an opportunity for reform.

    “Jackson’s kid [Raja Jackson] shouldn’t go to jail. Prison should always be a last resort. I was arrested at 19 for two felonies, a GBI. I would have spent 5 to 6 years in prison if the DA had its way. After 6 years in a cell, coming out with nothing, being indoctrinated with gangs and violence, I guarantee I would have killed someone. There was one guy telling me about how he picked up a murder charge, and I remembered being impressed by him. That would have been my future.

    “Instead, I pled and took 100 days in jail or work release, a ton of anger management, and a decent amount of victim restitution after a miserable two years of court. Luckily, a lawyer took my case for free because I didn’t have a dollar to my name. Bottom line is, it’s not about the person in prison it’s about who they become when they’re out of prison, and I believe if I wasn’t offered that deal, I would be dead today and more than likely would have resulted in someone else’s death as well. My two cents… Rehabilitation over prison always,” Strickland wrote on X.

  • Sean Strickland Agrees To Anger Management In Bid To Reduce Suspension From June 28 Altercation

    Sean Strickland Agrees To Anger Management In Bid To Reduce Suspension From June 28 Altercation

    Sean Strickland is ready to work with the commission in hopes of cutting down his suspension time.

    On Thursday, the Nevada Athletic Commission hit Strickland with a six-month suspension and a $5,000 fine for storming the cage and attacking a fighter at the June 28 Tuff-N-Uff event in Nevada.

    The drama erupted when Strickland and fellow UFC fighter Chris Curtis were cornering teammate Miles Hunsinger in his bout against Luis Hernandez at Tuff-N-Uff. After Hernandez sealed the win with a second-round submission, he mocked Hunsinger’s corner with a provocative crotch-chop celebration.

    The taunt instantly set Strickland and Curtis off, prompting both to storm the cage, with the former UFC middleweight champ even managing to land a punch on Hernandez in the melee.

    Strickland’s suspension is scheduled to run until December 29, but it could be shortened to just 4.5 months, clearing him by mid-October, if he completes a commission-approved anger management course. Judging by his recent stance, the polarizing MMA fighter seems ready to take that route.

    Sean Strickland ready to take anger management
    Image: @stricklandmma/Instagram

    Sean Strickland Eyes Early Return By Agreeing To Anger Management Training

    After receiving a six-month suspension, Sean Strickland took to social media to announce his plans to complete the required anger management program, which could shave his punishment down to 4.5 months and make him eligible to fight again on November 14.

    Although it’s still uncertain what specific program Strickland must complete to meet the commission’s requirements, the 34-year-old Californian has doubled down on his resolve to make a swift return to the Octagon, keeping his eyes firmly fixed on newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.

    “Well! Ready to put this to bed and get back in the cage,” Sean Strickland wrote on Instagram. Can’t have a terrorist as a champion, sadly I think Im the only one to change that. Appreciate the commission for getting this done.. Anger management here I come…”

    Sean Strickland last competed at UFC 312 in February, where he came up short in his bid to reclaim the middleweight crown, dropping a one-sided unanimous decision to then-champion Dricus Du Plessis. Over his past eight Octagon outings, Strickland has gone 4-4.

    Sean Strickland
    Image: UFC/YouTube
  • Sean Strickland Suspended For Six Months By NSAC

    Sean Strickland Suspended For Six Months By NSAC

    The Nevada State Athletic Commission has finally ruled on a suspension for UFC fighter Sean Strickland, suspending the former UFC middleweight champion six months.

    The suspension is retroactive to June 29, the date of the incident at a Tuff-N-Uff event that led to Strickland’s suspension. Strickland will be eligible to return to action on December 29.

    The NSAC, however, further ruled that Strickland’s suspension can be reduced to four-and-a-half months if he completes an anger management course. This would make him eligible to return on November 14.

    Strickland also faces a $5,000 fine, plus fees.

    This ruling comes one month after the initial planned NSAC hearing for Strickland.

    Sean Strickland Suspended Six Months After Punching Fighter At Tuff-N-Uff Event

    Strickland was present at an event hosted by Tuff-N-Uff, and broadcasted on UFC Fight Pass, on June 29. Strickland and teammate Chris Curtis were in the corner of Miles Hunsinger as he took on Luis Hernandez.

    After submitting Hunsinger, Hernandez taunted Hunsinger’s corner, looking in the direction of the two UFC fighters. This caused Strickland and Curtis to come into the cage, with Strickland throwing punches at Hernandez, with at least one landing before security intervened to break the altercation up.

    Curtis was not suspended; however, he was fined $2,500 plus fees.

    Strickland has not been in action since losing to Dricus Du Plessis in a middleweight title rematch at UFC 312 in February.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Laughs at Sean Strickland’s Callout after UFC 319 Win “He’s a funny guy”

    UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has laughed off Sean Strickland in the wake of his title win at UFC 319.

    As we know, Khamzat Chimaev is an absolute monster – and he’s also the new king of the middleweight division. He was able to achieve that goal by dominating Dricus du Plessis from beginning to end in the main event of UFC 319, and now, he’s ready to become one of the biggest stars in the entire sport of mixed martial arts.

    Sean Strickland, meanwhile, is a former champion in his own right. He’s also been an outspoken critic of Khamzat Chimaev for a while now, to the point where he even predicted that Dricus du Plessis would win at UFC 319. Of course, he was proven wrong.

    In a recent interview, Khamzat Chimaev gave his thoughts on Sean Strickland’s criticism.

    Khamzat Chimaev laughs off Sean Strickland

    “We could take him down many times, but how can he take me down? Come on. This guy, I beat him everywhere – in striking. But this guy just talks too much. So, he’s a funny guy.”

    Chimaev has always been the kind of guy who is willing to take on any challenger, so who knows – maybe Strickland will be able to earn a title shot with another victory.

    Even if he doesn’t, we can’t imagine that he’ll stop throwing shots in the direction of Khamzat anytime soon in the midst of what is quickly becoming one of the most exciting divisions in the sport.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Called Mentally Weak by Sean Strickland: “You’re a b****”

    Khamzat Chimaev Called Mentally Weak by Sean Strickland: “You’re a b****”

    Former UFC champion Sean Strickland has gone after Khamzat Chimaev ahead of the latter’s UFC 319 title fight against Dricus du Plessis.

    Later this month, Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship. It’s a fight that’s been a long time coming, and it’s one that many believe ‘Borz’ will win. As we know, though, du Plessis is an unpredictable guy, and he’s been able to overcome the odds on multiple occasions over the years.

    In two of his UFC title fights, DDP was able to defeat Sean Strickland to claim – and then successfully retain – the middleweight crown. Khamzat Chimaev has yet to compete against either of the two men in a sanctioned bout, but he’s certainly been back and forth with both quite a lot over the years.

    In a recent interview, Sean Strickland didn’t hold back when giving his honest thoughts and opinions on Khamzat Chimaev.

    Sean Strickland goes after Khamzat Chimaev

    “Chimaev is just a f*ng c*nt. I was there when he retired from COVID. I was training with him. There’s a video of me — I was like, ‘Oh, you’re so good, you’re better than everybody,’ like I’m being sarcastic.

    “You can pick high-level UFC fighters, but you’re picking 1–1 because you think he’s the same height as your opponent. No dude, you’re picking him because you’re a bitch, dude. Mentally, he’s just a weak man.”

    Who knows, maybe we’ll get the chance to see these two square off at some point in the future.

  • Sean Strickland Temporarily Suspended By Nevada State Athletic Commission, Hearing Scheduled

    Sean Strickland Temporarily Suspended By Nevada State Athletic Commission, Hearing Scheduled

    The UFC may be without Sean Strickland for some time, depending on what the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) determines at an upcoming meeting.

    The NSAC will be holding a meeting this coming Wednesday, July 23, and one of the topics for discussion will be an “extension of temporary suspension” for Strickland “for possible action.”

    A temporary suspension for Strickland has been confirmed, meaning that Strickland is unable to compete in the UFC until a full punishment is determined and served.

    Sean Strickland Temporarily Suspended For Tuff-N-Uff Incident, NSAC To Hold Hearing Wednesday

    The suspension stems from an incident at a Tuff-N-Uff event last month that Strickland was present at. Strickland, along with fellow UFC fighter Chris Curtis, were in the corner of Miles Hunsinger, who was submitted by Luis Hernandez.

    Following Hernandez’s win, Hernandez made taunts in the direction of Strickland Curtis, who stormed the cage for a confrontation. Strickland threw punches toward Hernandez, including one that appeared to land, before security intervened.

    Strickland last fought at UFC 312, coming up short in a middleweight title rematch against Dricus Du Plessis.

  • Sean Strickland Punches Fighter After Being Taunted During Tuff-N-Uff Event

    Sean Strickland Punches Fighter After Being Taunted During Tuff-N-Uff Event

    Sean Strickland got into a cage and threw, and he wasn’t even at a UFC event — he wasn’t even in a match at all.

    Strickland, along with Chris Curtis, was in the corner for a teammate’s fight at Tuff-N-Uff 145 on June 29, held at The Theatre at The Sahara in Las Vegas, Nevada. The teammate, Miles Hunsinger, was in action in a middleweight contest against Luis Hernandez.

    Less than a minute into the second round of the fight, Hernandez had Hunsinger caught in a standing guillotine, scoring the submission. Following the win, Hernandez appeared to make vulgar taunts in the direction of Curtis and Strickland.

    Strickland, not one to let jeers at him fly by, entered the cage with Curtis. While Curtis tried to speak to Hernandez, Strickland punched the Tuff-N-Uff fighter, resulting in officials having to intervene to break up the pair. Hernandez and Curtis did exchange some words before Curtis and Strickland exited the cage.

    Sean Strickland Punches Taunting Fighter At Tuff-N-Uff Event

    It is unknown what action, if any, the Nevada State Athletic Commission will take against Strickland, or anyone else involved in the incident at the Tuff-N-Uff event.

    The UFC and Tuff-N-Uff both have yet to release statements on the incident as of 9pm ET on June 29.

    This is far from Strickland’s first controversy outside of the Octagon. Strickland has also been under fire for batterings of content creators, including Nick Nayersina and Sneako. He has also come under heavy fire in the past for sexist and homophobic comments, as well as verbal attacks on media.

    Strickland was last in action in February, losing a UFC middleweight title rematch to Dricus Du Plessis.

    Hernandez improved to 6-0 with the win, while Hunsinger fell to 7-2.

  • Israel Adesanya Explains Strong Desire For Sean Strickland Rematch

    Israel Adesanya Explains Strong Desire For Sean Strickland Rematch

    Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has his sights on redemption against a familiar adversary next time out.

    Adesanya is currently riding a three-fight losing skid — a disappointing run that began with a shock decision defeat to Sean Strickland in Sydney two years ago.

    Against the odds and predictions of many, “Tarzan” dropped the then-champ early before comfortably outstriking him across five rounds. The title win went down as one of the promotion’s greatest upsets, and it was enough to net MMA News’ Performance of the Year award for 2023.

    The result brought the Nigerian-New Zealander’s sophomore title reign to a quick end and served as the catalyst for a break. He’s since returned to action and suffered stoppage losses to both Dricus Du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov.

    Despite some in the community calling for retirement, Adesanya was quick to dismiss that and outline the plan for his next fight — a rematch with Strickland.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Adesanya explained why he’s so keen to run it back with the controversial American.

    “This time I am gonna come at him correct,” Adesanya said. “I used to get bullied a lot as a kid. He’s an embodiment of that, in the sense that he attacked young me, my inner child. So I want to get some get back for him.”

    Strickland most recently competed in a rematch, as he ran it back with champ Du Plessis in competition for the middleweight gold this past February.

    Having failed to regain the belt at UFC 312 in Sydney, “Tarzan” has some work to do against fellow contenders if he’s to reinsert his name into the championship conversation.

  • Eric Nicksick Reveals Text From Sean Strickland ‘Immediately’ After Public Criticism

    Eric Nicksick Reveals Text From Sean Strickland ‘Immediately’ After Public Criticism

    Eric Nicksick is insisting that all is well between him and Sean Strickland despite their recent disagreement.

    Last month at UFC 312, Strickland suffered a one-sided unanimous decision loss in his rematch against reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.

    Following the defeat, his head coach, Nicksick, didn’t hold back, openly voicing his disappointment over the outspoken Californian’s seemingly uncompetitive performance and casting doubt on his fighter’s drive moving forward.

    Reacting to the comments, “Tarzan” revealed that while they will remain friends, the Xtreme Couture coach will no longer be in his corner from now on. This revelation sparked speculation within the MMA community about a possible rift between the longtime fighter-coach duo.

    However, Nicksick maintains that any tension with Strickland, if it ever existed, has now been put to rest.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Nicksick admitted that while he doesn’t completely second-guess his comments about Strickland, he wishes he had waited longer before speaking out. He emphasized that his words came from a place of genuine care.

    “The timing was wrong on my part, and the wording wasn’t as crystal clear as what I should have gotten out,” Nicksick said. “Everyone in the gym that knows me, Sean included, knew where my heart was and knew where my head was and the point that I was trying to get across.”

    Nicksick further shared that after his remarks gained traction, Sean Strickland reached out via text and later met with him in person, ultimately acknowledging the criticism.

    “Sean said that to me immediately via text. He was like, ‘Hey man, I know exactly what you mean.’ I saw him in person that same Thursday. We hugged, high-fived. ‘I’m going out snowboarding.’ We had a good conversation,” Nicksick continued. “So as far as I’m concerned, everything’s good on our end.”

    Following his recent setback, “Tarzan” now holds a 4-4 record in his last eight Octagon outings. This stretch includes the pinnacle of his career — dethroning Israel Adesanya to claim the 185-pound title at UFC 293 — only to have his reign cut short by Du Plessis at UFC 297.

  • Eric Nicksick Addresses Backlash To Public Criticism Of Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘I Made A Mistake…’

    Eric Nicksick Addresses Backlash To Public Criticism Of Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘I Made A Mistake…’

    Coach Eric Nicksick has spoken out regarding the reaction to how he responded to Sean Strickland’s failed attempt at reclaiming the UFC middleweight title earlier this month.

    The Xtreme Couture trainer was Down Under in Sydney, Australia earlier this month to corner Strickland at UFC 312. The former champion headlined in competition for Dricus Du Plessis’ gold.

    While the South African had narrowly fallen on the right side of a split decision in their first fight, the rematch was far more convincing, with “Stillknocks” cruising to a lopsided decision victory across five rounds.

    Strickland received plenty of flak for his performance, not least from his head coach. Nicksick gave a brutal assessment of his pupil, branding his attempt at winning back the middleweight belt “uninspiring” and questioning his motivation.

    The 33-year-old evidently didn’t take too kindly to the public review, expressing plans to switch up his corner team moving forward while addressing the criticism in a social media video.

    A number of other prominent names in the MMA space, from Daniel Cormier to Matt Brown, have also spoken out against Nicksick’s decision to publicly slate his fighter. And in the comments section of an MMA Fighting Instagram post showing “The Immortal’s” remarks on it, Strickland’s coach admitted to making an error.

    Eric Nicksick

    “@iamtheimmortal I agree, Matt, looking back at it I made a mistake,” Nicksick admitted. “My true intentions were to try and motivate him publicly, and that was a miscalculation on my part.”

    It remains to be seen whether Strickland will push through with his plans to utilize new personnel for his next corner in spite of Nicksick acknowledging his mistake.

  • UFC Vet On Sean Strickland-Eric Nicksick Fallout: ‘A Coach Shouldn’t Criticize Their Fighter Publicly’

    UFC Vet On Sean Strickland-Eric Nicksick Fallout: ‘A Coach Shouldn’t Criticize Their Fighter Publicly’

    Sean Strickland’s lackluster performance at UFC 312, where he suffered a one-sided loss to Dricus Du Plessis, has led to public friction between him and his head coach, Eric Nicksick.

    Since the fight, Nicksick has openly criticized Strickland’s performance, calling it “underwhelming” and “uninspiring.” He cited the challenger’s lack of offensive output and the broken nose he sustained in the fourth round as key factors in the loss.

    Strickland responded by releasing a video detailing the physical struggles he endured leading up to the fight. He also stated that while he still considers Nicksick a friend, he “probably” won’t have him in his corner for future bouts.

    Former UFC fighter Matt Brown discussed the situation during the latest episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, focusing on that public criticism from a coach can feel like a betrayal.

    “First and foremost, we have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes,” Brown said. “There could be a million different things that we’re basing all this off—a couple of paragraphs. Who knows? That’s all we can base it off of, [the way] it looks. It’s unfortunate. I don’t think you should criticize your fighter publicly.”

    While Strickland’s performance is open to critique, Brown believes Nicksick’s approach could have been handled better. He compared the coach-fighter dynamic to a personal relationship built on trust.

    “A coach-athlete relationship is like boyfriend/girlfriend,” Brown explained. “You’ve got their back until you don’t when it’s all said and done. More like a marriage, I guess. It’s to the death. You’ve got their back, and you’re there for them. You’re not fighting for them. All you’re doing is giving your belief on what you think they need to do. They’re trusting you with that belief. It doesn’t mean they’re going to do it, or they have to do it, or they’re bad if they don’t do it, or there’s something wrong if they don’t do it. You don’t know what they’re going through. You don’t know what it’s like standing in front of someone trying to kill you, especially guys that have never fought.”

    Brown also touched on a broader debate in MMA — whether coaches who have never fought professionally can truly understand what their fighters experience inside the cage.

    “I try not to be overly critical,” Brown said. “I like guys like Eric Nicksick, but if you’ve never fought, you’re literally just giving an opinion. I think someone who’s fought, their opinion goes a lot farther. But it’s still an opinion. It’s like if you want to teach someone how to drive a car and you’ve never driven a car before. Do you really want to learn from that person? My 14-year-old son could tell you how to drive a car. He could teach someone how to drive a car, but do you want to learn from him? It doesn’t really make sense.”

    Brown acknowledged that non-fighter coaches can still bring value to a training camp but believes that if they are going to strongly critique a fighter’s performance, they should have firsthand experience in the sport.

    “I try not to be too much of a hater for guys who have never fought, because they can bring a lot of value to a camp, also,” Brown added. “But if you’re going to sit there and act like your opinion is so good, and your belief of what they did was so good, I hope you’ve at least fought before so you can say, ‘OK, I did that, and I believe that you should.’”

    With Strickland’s future cornering situation now in question, it remains to be seen whether he and Nicksick will be able to mend their relationship or if he will seek a new coaching team moving forward.

  • Gilbert Burns Defends Sean Strickland Amid UFC 312 Criticism: ‘People Have Very Short Memories’

    Gilbert Burns Defends Sean Strickland Amid UFC 312 Criticism: ‘People Have Very Short Memories’

    UFC 312 might be over but Sean Strickland’s disappointing performance is still on many fans’ radar. Apparently, after frequently promising a violent war against Dricus Du Plessis, he couldn’t deliver and the fight was a one-sided bashing. Although many have complained about Strickland not walking the talk, top welterweight contender Gilbert Burns feels differently.

    The Brazilian is among the few fighters defending Strickland when even the latter’s long-time coach, Eric Nicksick, has shifted grounds.

    In a recent episode of Show Me The Money podcast, the former title challenger called out critics who’re questioning Strickland’s legacy based on one loss:

    “Another thing, Sean didn’t get the defense. Sean was falling, I don’t know, maybe he wasn’t feeling good, whatever. We’re never going to know, right? But to say, ‘Oh, he talks a lot, he doesn’t back it up,’ I don’t like that. I think the guy backs it up many times. He backed it up against Imavov, he backed it up against my guy Brendan Allen, he backed it up against so many guys, right? Paulo Costa, Adesanya, bro, he beat a lot of the best guys, and people are saying, ‘Oh, he just talks, he doesn’t do much.’ I think that’s very disrespectful.”

    Burns claimed that people’s memories have become photographic in the modern world as they’ve clearly forgot Strickland’s impressive wins over Nassourdine Imavov, Paulo Costa, Israel Adesanya, and Brendan Allen.

    “People have very short memories, it’s the reels day, you know? It’s the TikTok days where you swipe, you see something nice, swipe again, and then it’s gone. But it wasn’t long ago the guy was the champion, fighting everybody. He beat so many good guys, and people are just saying, “Oh, he talks a lot, he’s crazy,” but I like it. And the guy backs it up, or he tries at least.”

    Burns last fought Sean Brady in September 2024, and is scheduled to return on UFC 314 on April 12, 2025. The veteran is on a three-fight losing streak and only a solid win can help him remain in the title race.

    The Brazilian’s opponent for the Miami card, Michael Morales, certainly poses a big threat. Standing a decade younger, he’s among the very few elite fighters on an undefeated run. Coming out of a TKO win over Neil Magny, Morales will try to add another big name to his resume to rise quickly in the rankings.

    As for Strickland, he’s still the no. 2 ranked UFC middleweight contender in the world. From rematches with Imavov, Costa, and Adesanya to fresh fights against Robert Whittaker, Khamzat Chimaev, and Caio Borralho, he has plenty of options on the table for his imminent return to the Octagon.

  • Sean Strickland Ousts Eric Nicksick From His Corner Team After Public Criticism Of UFC 312 Performance

    Sean Strickland Ousts Eric Nicksick From His Corner Team After Public Criticism Of UFC 312 Performance

    While former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland doesn’t appear to have any animosity toward his “friend” Eric Nicksick, he seemingly isn’t expecting the renowned coach to lead his corner next time out.

    After sharing a special night in Sydney back in 2023 courtesy of a memorable upset win over Israel Adesanya, Strickland and Nicksick were back Down Under last week challenging the reign of Dricus Du Plessis.

    They narrowly failed to crack the South African’s puzzle 13 months ago in Canada, and the polarizing American was even further from having his hand raised second time around.

    In the main event of UFC 312 on Saturday, Strickland fell to a lopsided decision defeat after a disappointing display across five rounds that has garnered him plenty of flak from the MMA community. And perhaps the most vocally critical this week was the Xtreme Couture standout’s head coach and cornerman.

    During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Nicksick didn’t hold back in his assessment of Strickland’s performance, branding it “uninspiring.” Many have eagerly anticipated the ex-champ’s reaction to those remarks, and he provided them a day later in a video posted on X.

    In addition to outlining his plan to utilize different individuals in his corner moving forward, Strickland highlighted some of the adversity he had to overcome during fight camp for UFC 312.

    “Alright, you guys keep tagging me about this whole Eric thing,” Strickland began. “I like Eric; he’s a friend of mine, and he’s going to continue to be a friend of mine. Will he be in my corner? Probably not. We have so many great guys at Xtreme…we have so many savages who I would love to corner me. … That entire (UFC 312) fight camp was just a struggle. Guys, we all have exuses as to why we didn’t win…and they don’t f*cking matter.

    “The only reason why I’m making this video is because Eric had to go do a f*cking podcast and become an influencer, so now I’ve got to kind of explain myself. Opportunity never comes when it’s supposed to. … You must say yes. This is not an excuse, but that entire camp was just a struggle of, ‘I’m good, I’m good,’ knowing I’m not good,” Strickland continued. “Whether it be the staph infection, the broken arm, having to get a visa that didn’t get approved until a week (before), not being able to get cornerman out there; this entire camp was a struggle of, ‘I’m not good,’ but me looking in the mirror and saying, ‘Sack up!’”

    The 33-year-old also touched on Nicksick’s questioning of his motivation when it comes to a continued career in fighting.

    While the renowned trainer stated in no uncertain terms that he’s only interested in coaching those who aspire to be a world champion, Strickland enters the Octagon for a different reason.

    “You guys, I don’t fight to put belts on the wall. I don’t fight because Eric wants to go do a fancy podcast,” Strickland stated. “Before fighting, you guys, I had the lowest self-esteem. I couldn’t even look at myself in the f*cking mirror. Through fighting, I’ve learned so much, met so many amazing people. … You guys have changed my f*cking life. You’ve made me grow so much as a person, in the ring and out of the ring. That’s why I fight.”

  • Coach Eric Nicksick Gives Brutal Assessment Of Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘To Show Up And Do That…Uninspiring’

    Coach Eric Nicksick Gives Brutal Assessment Of Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘To Show Up And Do That…Uninspiring’

    Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has been receiving plenty of flak for his defeat this past weekend, and it’s clear that even his own team is under no illusion about their man’s underperformance.

    Strickland vowed to put on a war in pursuit of redemption against Dricus Du Plessis — the man who took the 185-pound gold from him early last year — in the UFC 312 main event on Feb. 8.

    But in his return to the site where he shockingly dethroned Israel Adesanya in 2023, the polarizing American was unable to repeat the feat. Instead, the South African once again got the better of him on the scorecards, this time much more definitively.

    The defeated challenger has been criticized for not letting his hands go and putting any sort of pressure on the champ throughout the five-round contest. And perhaps the most brutally honest take to date has come from the lips of his head coach.

    During an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Nicksick described his frustrations as he watched Strickland’s lackluster display from the corner inside Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.

    “I think (Strickland) needs to evaluate what he wants to do in the sport,” Nicksick said. “If it’s just to make money, then that’s great. Let us know. I wanna coach world champions. My motivations are different. Just to kind of show up and do that and not really back it up, to me, was just kind of uninspiring.

    “It was just uninspired fighting to me. It just seemed like (Strickland) was sleepwalking. It was tough, man,” Nicksick continued. “To travel all the way (to Australia) — and let’s not forget, this is a title fight…I take these title fights very seriously. I was just disappointed, man.”

    It remains to be seen how Strickland will react to Nicksick’s stance, and what kind of conversations the two have had behind closed doors in the aftermath of Saturday’s pay-per-view event Down Under.

  • Luke Rockhold Slams Sean Strickland For ‘B*tching Out’ After Nose Break vs. Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 312

    Luke Rockhold Slams Sean Strickland For ‘B*tching Out’ After Nose Break vs. Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 312

    Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland continues to be the recipient of criticism for his latest performance.

    Strickland fell to a 1-2 record since winning the gold in August 2023 this past weekend. His memorable title win over Israel Adesanya was quickly followed by the end of his reign courtesy of Dricus Du Plessis 13 months ago, and the South African once again got the better of the polarizing American on Saturday.

    The pair ran it back Down Under in Sydney, Australia, headlining the UFC 312 pay-per-view. Strickland didn’t come close to redemption, instead suffering a lopsided decision defeat at the hands of “Stillknocks,” whose punches even resulted in a badly broken nose for the challenger.

    During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, another ex-UFC middleweight champ in Luke Rockhold gave his assessment of Strickland’s display.

    Like many in the MMA community, the 40-year-old was not impressed — to say the least…

    “If someone breaks your nose, you gotta fight like a f*cking man and sack up,” Rockhold said. “This motherf*cker talks such a big game and then he b*tches out and basically quits in a fight after he breaks his nose.

    “When does (Strickland) ever f*cking put his ass on the line and f*cking bite down and really go for it through a whole process of a fight, not just the last 10 seconds of a round? Look at him out there,” Rockhold added.

    Strickland has long faced heavy flak for his fight style, which sees a low-aggression approach follow fight weeks that usually involve proclamations of an impending bloody “war.”

    The likes of Demetrious Johnson have called on the former champ to adjust his style following two defeats to Du Plessis in his last three fights. Whether or not he heeds that advice remains to be seen.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Matchmakes For Defeated Opponent Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘I Just Thought Of That…’

    Dricus Du Plessis Matchmakes For Defeated Opponent Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘I Just Thought Of That…’

    Dricus Du Plessis has a suggestion for Sean Strickland’s next fight following his loss at UFC 312.

    Strickland’s rematch with Du Plessis ended in a decisive unanimous decision defeat. The former champion endured significant damage, including a broken nose, as blood streamed down his face during the main event.

    Now, the question is: what’s next for the polarizing American?

    The answer is clear in the reigning champ’s mind. He believes Strickland should face Israel Adesanya in a rematch.

    “I know what’s going to happen next,” Du Plessis said during his UFC 312 post-fight press conference. “I can almost guarantee you what’s happening next: Is there any bets that he’s fighting Adesanya next? I just thought of that. … I think the Adesanya rematch will be amazing. That’s what’s going to happen. It’s going to be a Fight Night main event. I know it.”

    “The Last Stylebender” is coming off a second-round knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia.

    Strickland’s reign as UFC middleweight champion was brief. He defeated Adesanya at UFC 293 in September 2023 but lost the belt in his first defense against Du Plessis, who later went on to defeat Adesanya as well.

  • Demetrious Johnson Tells Sean Strickland To ‘Swallow His Ego’ & Change His Style After UFC 312

    Demetrious Johnson Tells Sean Strickland To ‘Swallow His Ego’ & Change His Style After UFC 312

    UFC legend Demetrious Johnson thinks it’s time for Sean Strickland to change his ways after a second championship defeat in the span of three fights.

    Strickland returned to action in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 312 pay-per-view, challenging for Dricus Du Plessis’ middleweight title in Sydney, Australia. Having had the gold taken away by narrow margins opposite Du Plessis 13 months ago, the polarizing American was looking for revenge Down Under.

    But he failed in that pursuit, instead falling to a lopsided decision defeat to the South African — and suffering a gruesome broken nose in the process.

    The challenger utilized his usual limited, non-aggressive offense. Coach Eric Nicksick’s pleas for more from his student fell on deaf ears, and one prominent ex-champ believes Strickland’s current style has taken him as far as it can.

    “Sean Strickland has a style where he would not deviate from it,” Johnson said on his YouTube channel. “In order to get better in this sport of mixed martial arts, you have to take the time, swallow your pride, swallow your ego, and put yourself in the position where you’re going to force yourself to evolve and get better and and learn new tools.

    “That’s the only way you’re going to become a better fighter in this game. Because otherwise, people who are younger, who will take the time to evolve and get better, are always going to beat you,” Johnson added.

    Strickland will now return to the gym and begin his path back to another shot at regaining the belt. Meanwhile, champ Du Plessis is expected to next face a challenge from undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev.

  • Dana White Reveals ‘Fascinating’ Revelation He Had While Watching Sean Strickland At UFC 312

    Dana White Reveals ‘Fascinating’ Revelation He Had While Watching Sean Strickland At UFC 312

    Sean Strickland’s loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 was a decisive unanimous decision. During the main event, the former champion endured significant damage, including a broken nose, as blood streamed down his face.

    Despite the adversity, though, he persevered and refused to quit.

    UFC CEO Dana White praised Strickland’s toughness and mental focus after the fight while also sharing an interesting observation about his demeanor inside the octagon.

    “Sean is usually really good at shutting people down, like Izzy (Adesanya),” White told reporters. “When he fought Izzy, Izzy couldn’t get into a rhythm, and Sean was in his face, pressuring him the whole time. It feels like that’s what Dricus did to him.

    “I’ll tell you something fascinating that I noticed tonight for the first time. I don’t know why. We’ll see if you notice this. So, Sean Strickland — the way he acts leading up to fights, right? Normally, when you have people who act the way he does, you see signs of it in a fight. But who is more focused, professional, and solid in a fight than he is? When he gets hurt, there’s no sticking out the tongue, no, ‘No, no, that didn’t hurt me.’ The guy stays focused and keeps coming forward.

    “There’s never any hint of how he acts outside the octagon when he’s in there. Absolute professional the whole time. It’s actually fascinating. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that with a guy who acts the way he does leading up to fights.”

    Strickland’s UFC record has taken a downturn since his middleweight title win in September 2023. He is now 1-2 in his last three fights, with both losses coming in title bouts against Du Plessis.

    “I’ve never seen a guy so solid and professional,” White added. “He gets his nose broken, snaps it back into place, and keeps fighting. He gets hit with some nasty shots, but when he does, he doesn’t shake his head or do the goofy things that guys like Mayorga did. You can go into any combat sport, and you’ve seen it. But nobody is more professional during the fight than this guy is. It’s fascinating.”

  • UFC Analyst Rips Sean Strickland After UFC 312 Performance: ‘He’s Not Who He Says He Is’

    UFC Analyst Rips Sean Strickland After UFC 312 Performance: ‘He’s Not Who He Says He Is’

    Sean Strickland’s pre-fight promises of a brutal, all-out war with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 ultimately fell flat when they met in their rematch.

    This is becoming a trend, as Strickland has a history of talking up his willingness to fight to the death — only for his bouts to be marked more by decisions than finishes. That pattern frustrated veteran analyst and coach Din Thomas, who expressed disappointment after Strickland’s latest performance.

    “We just have to admit it now. We have to admit it: Sean Strickland is not who he says he is,” Thomas said on the UFC 312 post-fight show (h/t MMA Fighting). “He’s not who he says he is. We want him to be something. He wants to be something, but he’s not that guy.

    “He’s not the guy who’s going to go to the death! To the death! He didn’t go to the death. He didn’t even go deep. I’m not saying he’s not a great fighter. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve to be where he’s at. But he’s not who he says he is. We’ve got to admit that.”

    Strickland’s rematch with Du Plessis mirrored their first fight, ending in another loss for the American. However, this time, his performance was noticeably less aggressive. Rather than pushing for a finish, he relied on his jab and attempted to outwork the South African on the feet.

    Between rounds, Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, repeatedly urged him to be more active, emphasizing the need for a finish in the final round. Despite the advice, the challenger’s approach remained largely unchanged, leading to another setback.

  • Khamzat Chimaev & Nassourdine Imavov Among Fighters Unimpressed By UFC 312 Main Event

    Khamzat Chimaev & Nassourdine Imavov Among Fighters Unimpressed By UFC 312 Main Event

    Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland ran it back in Saturday’s UFC 312 headliner, and it’s safe to say the rematch didn’t thrill the MMA masses.

    The pair’s second dance went down this weekend in Sydney, Australia, 13 months on from Du Plessis securing a narrow split decision to capture the middleweight crown.

    The South African made good on his promise to show more evolution in the time since the first meeting, dominantly outpointing a gun-shy Strickland across five rounds in the UFC 312 main event at the Qudos Bank Arena.

    As is often the case, “Tarzan” promised fans a war on fight night but failed to deliver, with his approach even garnering boos from the crowd in attendance at some points in the fight.

    And it was far from just the locals in the arena who were bemused by how the fight played out at UFC 312. Among the critics online were a pair of top 185-pound contenders vying to compete for the gold next — Khamzat Chimaev and Nassourdine Imavov.

    Many believed Chimaev was deserving of the first shot at Du Plessis in 2025. While “Tarzan” got the better of Paulo Costa in a lackluster 15-minute contest last June, “Borz” emphatically submitted Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi four months later.

    Imavov, meanwhile, staked his claim for a first championship opportunity last weekend in Saudi Arabia, where he knocked out former two-time champ Israel Adesanya.