Sean Strickland‘s head coach, Eric Nicksick, has expressed support for his fighter’s open discussion of mental health struggles on social media, stating he understands the battles his athletes face and is committed to helping them navigate their mental health.
Eric Nicksick, head coach of Sean Strickland, is clued in. He knows about his fighter’s social media posts on mental health. And he wants Strickland to know he’s got his back, always.
Strickland, the ex-UFC middleweight champ, got real on Instagram. He talked about his inner demons, his struggles. Nicksick doesn’t always see eye-to-eye with his fighter’s words. But when it comes to the mental game, he’s all in. He knows his fighter inside out, he admits.
Nicksick thinks he could do more, though. He pointed to Strickland’s UFC 297 loss to Dricus du Plessis. And the advice he gave Strickland before the final round.
“I know why he fights, who he fights for,” Nicksick said on The MMA Hour. “He fights for that little kid inside him that he couldn’t protect. He’d take on anyone for that little guy in his heart. I told him that before Round 5 [at UFC 297]. Wish I’d said it in Round 4. You gotta know who and what they’re fighting for.”
“I need to get better at this,” Nicksick admitted. “Especially with him.”
Strickland’s recent post was an eye-opener. But he had a reason. He wanted his fans to know he gets their battles. He wanted to tell them they’re not alone.
Strickland, 33, was on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast in January. He shared some of his childhood trauma. It was a heavy interview.
Nicksick has a message for Strickland and other fighters. He’s got their backs, through everything they’ve been through in their lives and careers.
“These guys and gals go through a lot, especially in this sport,” Nicksick said. “Add in brain damage over the years, CTE, and this guy’s past. Man, don’t be scared to talk about it. Doesn’t have to be on Theo Von. We can grab a coffee, chat, just us. It stays between us.”
“It helps me understand my fighter better,” he added.