UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, who unexpectedly won against Israel Adesanya, is settling into his new status and looking forward to fighting opponents who will earn him the most money, while promising not to change his lifestyle despite his newfound fame and success in the UFC.
Sean Strickland has found his footing as the UFC middleweight champion, a title he clinched after a stunning upset over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 more than a fortnight ago. First laying out his thoughts on his rise to the title on his podcast – ‘The Man Dance’ – with Chris Curtis, his co-host and fellow UFC fighter, Strickland conveyed that winning the title was surprisingly easy. He surmised that Adesanya probably underestimated him, expecting a hassle-free title defense. With a chuckle, he affirmed, “Oh yeah, I guess I did win a championship,” before going on to comment about his love for fighting and his inclination to deliver his best.
Strickland catapulted himself to stardom virtually overnight, presenting a dominant display over Adesanya despite being a heavy betting underdog. With the original title challenger Dricus du Plessis out of the bout, Strickland proved to be the surprise victor, defeating Adesanya with a unanimous decision and even knocking Adesanya down in the inaugural round. His unlikely victory led to a complete upheaval in the UFC middleweight division, thereby posing a vital question – who will be Strickland’s first challenger as the champion?
While UFC CEO Dana White initially favored an Adesanya rematch at the UFC 293 post-fight press conference, his support has since wavered. Nonetheless, Du Plessis alongside others have emerged as top contenders. Yet, Strickland is clear about his priority and unambiguous about his desired opponent – whoever brings in the big bucks for him. He desires a rival who can assure him impactful pay-per-view buys and put money on the table. Speaking on his stand, he stated, “I don’t care, dude, about the next fight. I want to make money. I don’t want to fight anybody boring. I want to fight someone who’s making money.”
Lifestyle changes incumbent on a popular UFC champion have already started to seep into Strickland’s life. His first two significant acquisitions post his win were a $500 trailer and a six-foot dinghy boat earmarked for lobster season. Strickland has, however, resolved to stay true to his blue-collar roots and unchanged despite fame. Speaking on his stance, he shared, “I don’t want to make people feel they are not enough… your value is connected to how you act, how you are as a father.” Clarifying his position as a champion, he affirmed, “I fight for you. Enjoy your old trucks, your beat-up Honda Civics.. I’ll keep rocking my Hyundai Accent. All thanks to you guys because you’re the reason I got this shot. Let’s go.”