One of the Most polarizing fighters in the UFC is Sean Strickland. Strickland holds an impressive 25-3 record with one of those losses coming to rising Champion Kamaru Usman. Strickland’s past might explain why he baffles UFC fans and MMA media as a whole. I think Strickland is a great fighter who could find himself across the cage from the Middleweight Champ in the near future.
Strickland was born February 27, 1991 in New Bern, North Carolina. Strickland had a rough time in his early years as his Father was Physically and Mentally abusive. This Caused Strickland to act out in school and he would end up getting kicked out of school. He’d end up getting kicked out of many more schools after that. Strickland admits as a youth he was a “Neo-Nazi” but due to ongoing interactions with people of different races, young Strickland would soon abandon these viewpoints after interacting with people of other races. Strickland began training MMA at age 14 and started fighting professionally at 16. Strickland is a striker but also holds a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Strickland made his professional debut in March of 2008 against Tyler Pottett for The King of The Cage promotion. He’d win the bout by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke.) Strickland would then face off against Brandon Ellsworth he’d win the bout with a first round TKO (Punches.) Strickland would then face off against William Wheeler winning via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in the first round. George Interiano would be next up for a young Strickland winning the three round contest by Unanimous Decision. Strickland would win his next three fights before facing off against Brandon Hunt for the KOTC Middleweight Championship. Strickland would win the belt by TKO and would defend the belt five times with a perfect 13-0 record. Strickland would soon get the call to fight in the UFC.
Strickland would make his UFC debut at UFC 171 in March of 2014 when he faced off against Bubba McDaniel. Strick would win the bout via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke.) Strickland would then go on to face Luke Barnatt he’d win this bout by Split Decision. He’d then face Santiago Ponzinibbio and would lose the three round contest by Unanimous Decision marking the first loss of his UFC and his whole career as a whole. He’d then win his next three contests against Igor Araújo, Alex Garcia, and Tom Breese. He’d then take the second loss of his career against Usman, before getting back into the win column against Court McGee. He’d then lose another contest to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos.
Strickland has won his last six contests and we think he should be in a Middleweight title fight very soon.
MMA Aficionado 