Despite his habit of rubbing people the wrong way with his disrespectful comments and behavior, Sean Strickland has experienced significant success in the UFC, winning nine of his past 11 fights and becoming the middleweight champion, with MMA legend Dan Henderson praising his skills but noting the need to part ways due to his disrespectful behavior towards teammates.
Sean Strickland is a polarizing figure known for rubbing people the wrong way, but this hasn’t hindered his success in the MMA world. With an impressive record of winning nine out of his last 11 fights, Strickland recently stunned audiences by dethroning Israel Adesanya to become the UFC middleweight champion at UFC 293. However, his journey to the top has not been without its fair share of controversies.
MMA legend Dan Henderson shed light on his past association with Strickland, recalling their time at Team Quest and the reasons behind their eventual separation. According to Henderson, Strickland’s penchant for speaking ill of others led to his departure from the gym, despite being highly regarded as a great training partner who pushed everyone to their limits. Henderson viewed this outspokenness as a necessary element in any gym environment, but it seems his team did not share the sentiment.
Strickland’s unfiltered personality has not only resulted in offensive comments during interviews and on social media but has also garnered him a significant fanbase as he climbed the ranks. Remarkably, even inside the cage, he continues to make waves with his upfront approach, not hesitating to engage in trash talk while outworking top-level opponents such as Adesanya, Imavov, and Hermansson. This same attitude reportedly carried over into his training sessions, causing friction with his teammates in the past.
Although Henderson acknowledges Strickland’s lack of respect towards his training partners, he maintains that he always supported him and recognized his potential. The MMA veteran even advised Strickland to move up to the 185-pound weight class, citing his own experience of fighting against larger opponents and finding success. Henderson praises Strickland’s grappling skills, striking defense, and most notably, his exceptional cardio, which he believes is a natural asset that sets him apart from his competitors.
In conclusion, Sean Strickland’s controversial behavior may have strained his relationships within the MMA community, but it has not hindered his remarkable achievements. With a relentless fighting style and an indomitable cardio capacity, he has carved his path to the top of the middleweight division. As Strickland continues to pave his way, his unfiltered persona will undoubtedly remain both a blessing and a curse in his quest for greatness.