Sean Strickland
Tarzan
USA
To headline UFC Houston
Strickland will take on Anthony Hernandez in a middleweight matchup at UFC Houston on Feb. 21, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
We last saw Strickland in February of 2025 in a title fight against Dricus Du Plessis, where he came up short for the second time. DDP has since lost his belt, but Strickland will have to first get through Hernandez -- who is on an eight-fight winning streak -- before getting another title shot. Strickland has the better volume striking numbers, though Hernandez offers a bigger wrestling threat (though Strickland does have a solid 76 percent takedown defense). This headline fight is scheduled for five rounds.
We last saw Strickland in February of 2025 in a title fight against Dricus Du Plessis, where he came up short for the second time. DDP has since lost his belt, but Strickland will have to first get through Hernandez -- who is on an eight-fight winning streak -- before getting another title shot. Strickland has the better volume striking numbers, though Hernandez offers a bigger wrestling threat (though Strickland does have a solid 76 percent takedown defense). This headline fight is scheduled for five rounds.
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Routed in title rematch
Strickland was unable to regain the UFC Middleweight Championship on Saturday, falling to Dricus Du Plessis via unanimous decision (45-50, 45-50, 46-49) at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia.
ANALYSIS
These two fought a little over a year ago. Strickland lost that one via split decision, and there was a case to be made he deserved to win. This one? No chance. Sean was in first gear from start to finish. He was able to get absolutely nothing going offensively. In the rare instances in which he did land, it was one-and-done. Strickland is an excellent striker, but he works almost exclusively behind his jab, and his skill set simply isn't one that is conducive to closing the gap when he falls behind early. He just doesn't land enough big shots to be effective in the eyes of the judges. Where Sean goes from here is an open question. He'll be 34 years of age in a couple weeks. It's highly unlikely he ever fights for UFC gold again -- and a certainty as long as du Plessis holds the belt. That said, he should continue to get notable bouts because his popularity remains significant.
These two fought a little over a year ago. Strickland lost that one via split decision, and there was a case to be made he deserved to win. This one? No chance. Sean was in first gear from start to finish. He was able to get absolutely nothing going offensively. In the rare instances in which he did land, it was one-and-done. Strickland is an excellent striker, but he works almost exclusively behind his jab, and his skill set simply isn't one that is conducive to closing the gap when he falls behind early. He just doesn't land enough big shots to be effective in the eyes of the judges. Where Sean goes from here is an open question. He'll be 34 years of age in a couple weeks. It's highly unlikely he ever fights for UFC gold again -- and a certainty as long as du Plessis holds the belt. That said, he should continue to get notable bouts because his popularity remains significant.
Gets another shot at UFC gold
Strickland (leg) will challenge for the UFC Middleweight Championship in the main event of UFC 312 on Feb. 8, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
This is a rematch of a title fight that took place in January of 2024 in which Du Plessis became the champion via split decision despite Strickland out-landing him 173-to-137 in significant strikes. The judges ultimately determined that du Plessis landed the more damaging blows, and the fact Strickland gave up six takedowns didn't help his cause either. Since then, Strickland picked up a split-decision victory over Paulo Costa in June, but has been sidelined since due to a possible leg injury. Du Plessis also picked up a victory of his own, submitting former champion Israel Adesanya last August. Look for the odds to be relatively even here, as Strickland could find success employing a similar game plan and fighting behind his jab.
This is a rematch of a title fight that took place in January of 2024 in which Du Plessis became the champion via split decision despite Strickland out-landing him 173-to-137 in significant strikes. The judges ultimately determined that du Plessis landed the more damaging blows, and the fact Strickland gave up six takedowns didn't help his cause either. Since then, Strickland picked up a split-decision victory over Paulo Costa in June, but has been sidelined since due to a possible leg injury. Du Plessis also picked up a victory of his own, submitting former champion Israel Adesanya last August. Look for the odds to be relatively even here, as Strickland could find success employing a similar game plan and fighting behind his jab.
Possible leg injury
Strickland has been given an indefinite medical suspension from the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board pending medical clearance of a left tibia/leg injury, Nolan King of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Strickland did an excellent job positioning himself for a title shot with a lopsided, clinical victory over a talented opponent in Paulo Costa, but if that opportunity comes before late-2024, he'll need an orthopedist to sign off. This potential injury comes as a bit of a surprise, as there wasn't much visual evidence of injury following Saturday's fight.
Strickland did an excellent job positioning himself for a title shot with a lopsided, clinical victory over a talented opponent in Paulo Costa, but if that opportunity comes before late-2024, he'll need an orthopedist to sign off. This potential injury comes as a bit of a surprise, as there wasn't much visual evidence of injury following Saturday's fight.
Outpaces another opponent
Strickland defeated Paulo Costa via split decision (46-49, 50-45, 49-46) at UFC 302 on Saturday in Newark.
ANALYSIS
Bizzare split decisions are part of the story of this fight card, but the focus here should be on Strickland, who walked his opponent down and threw volume for 25 minutes. "Tarzan" landed over 180 significant strikes in this fight, and while this is probably the least damage he's inflicted against an opponent in some time, it still speaks to his ability to impose his will in the Octagon. Nothing in the UFC is guaranteed, but it's hard to imagine anything else but a title shot is in Strickland's immediate future after he dropped the strap in a closely-contested five-round battle with Dricus Du Plessis in January. It may not always be thrilling, but Strickland has developed a style that makes him very hard to solve at middleweight, and it may just be enough to attain gold once again. He improves to 29-6 in professional MMA due to the victory.
Bizzare split decisions are part of the story of this fight card, but the focus here should be on Strickland, who walked his opponent down and threw volume for 25 minutes. "Tarzan" landed over 180 significant strikes in this fight, and while this is probably the least damage he's inflicted against an opponent in some time, it still speaks to his ability to impose his will in the Octagon. Nothing in the UFC is guaranteed, but it's hard to imagine anything else but a title shot is in Strickland's immediate future after he dropped the strap in a closely-contested five-round battle with Dricus Du Plessis in January. It may not always be thrilling, but Strickland has developed a style that makes him very hard to solve at middleweight, and it may just be enough to attain gold once again. He improves to 29-6 in professional MMA due to the victory.
Five-rounder with Costa on tap
Strickland is scheduled to compete against Paulo Costa in a five-round middleweight fight at UFC 302 in Newark on June 1, per Mike Bohn of MMAJunkie.com.
ANALYSIS
Strickland will need to work his way back up for another fight for the UFC Middleweight Championship. Defeating a fellow top contender in Costa may do just the trick. Strickland has been scheduled for five-round fights in each of his last five bouts, going 3-2 with wins over Nassourdine Imavov, Abusupiyan Magomedov and Israel Adesanya. Including his loss to Du Plessis, the ex-middleweight champion also suffered a decision defeat against Jared Cannonier.
Strickland will need to work his way back up for another fight for the UFC Middleweight Championship. Defeating a fellow top contender in Costa may do just the trick. Strickland has been scheduled for five-round fights in each of his last five bouts, going 3-2 with wins over Nassourdine Imavov, Abusupiyan Magomedov and Israel Adesanya. Including his loss to Du Plessis, the ex-middleweight champion also suffered a decision defeat against Jared Cannonier.