Sean Strickland’s journey back to the UFC middleweight crown has been nothing short of tumultuous. Strickland, affectionately known as ‘Tarzan’, shook the MMA world to its core when he dethroned Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in 2023. A ‘performance of the night’ bonus. However, his reign was short-lived.
The Controversial loss of Du Plessis
In his first title defense against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297, Strickland lost the belt in a split decision in a feud that caused a lot of controversy among fans and analysts and didn’t end in the Octagon. Strickland took to social media to express his displeasure, saying, “UFC fans want me to settle with Dricus. Dricus wants to get rid of it. We all know I fought in a dirty liberal country that f*cked me. Dana knows that. The UFC knows that.”
Narrow Wins and a Cloudy Future
Bouncing back, Strickland managed a split decision victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302. However, this victory did little to clarify his status in the ultra-competitive middleweight division Meanwhile, former champion Robert Whittaker made a strong statement hard for himself with his first-round knockout of Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Saudi Arabia. This fight was originally pitched against Khamzat Chimaev who had to withdraw at the last minute, adding weight to Whittaker’s progress.
Feeling overlooked, Strickland voiced his frustration on social media: “I have been asked to fight Whittaker. I beat Izzy, the world knows I beat Dricus. Whittaker lost to both of them. I am the leading contender and I can easily defend that position against Costa. I will wait…” However, his words did not sit well with the MMA community.
Fans are Heavy
UFC CEO Dana White has said that Whittaker could be the backup fighter in the upcoming title fight between du Plessis and Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. This only sparked a firestorm among fans, many of whom are critical of Strickland’s stance. Here’s a picture of fan reactions.
MMA Statistics Controversy
Fans were quick to refute Strickland’s claim in MMA statistics, where past victories are used to establish superiority. “MMA Math doesn’t work. Whittaker will put a clinical hit on you,” said one fan, emphasizing Whittaker’s superior hitting skills.
Conflicting Character
Strickland’s changing stance on the UFC title hasn’t gone unnoticed. One fan said “Bro gone title doesn’t make any sense until he cries about it every day”, pointing out the inconsistency of his approach.
Beaten by Du Plessis
Many fans have reminded Strickland that his current slump was self-inflicted. “If you beat DDP, you’d get the belt, bro,” one fan said, insisting that Strickland’s loss to du Plessis wasn’t the only reason he wouldn’t get the title back
Determinations of Strategy
Conversely, some supporters comprehend Strickland’s hesitation to face Whittaker. “MMA mathematics is flawed. Yet I would wait too if I were him. One fan suggested that battling Whittaker might not be the best course of action tactically, saying, “No reason to take an unnecessary risk.”
In a lighthearted dig, a different fan likened Strickland’s predicament to Michael Chandler’s extended absence because of his quest for a rematch with Conor McGregor. “Be you and fight Bobby Knuckles; we already have a Michael Chandler.”
