UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland‘s brash demeanor and intense training style, which has led to conflicts with teammates and his ejection from a previous gym, is seen as a positive by his current teammates and coaches at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, who describe him as a dedicated and loyal teammate.
Sean Strickland, the UFC middleweight champ, is a polarizing figure. His brash demeanor, which he maintains across press conferences, interviews, and social media, is not a show for the cameras.
His training home is Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, a gym founded by UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture. Strickland’s teammates and coaches confirm that his public persona matches his gym persona.
Before settling at Xtreme Couture, Strickland was a bit of a gym nomad. He moved around, working with various coaches and sparring partners. One of the reasons for his nomadic lifestyle was his ejection from Dan Henderson’s Team Quest facility in Temecula, California. Henderson, a UFC and PRIDE FC legend, claimed Strickland was too disrespectful to his teammates.
Sam Alvey, a fellow UFC middleweight, admits that Henderson’s words were harsh but true. Alvey maintains a good relationship with Strickland and acknowledges that his training style can be intense. Strickland doesn’t believe in half measures. It’s all or nothing for him.
This intensity can rub some people the wrong way. Strickland’s behavior even prompted a warning from Henderson to Xtreme Couture’s head coach, Eric Nicksick. However, Nicksick saw potential in Strickland and believed he could be a valuable addition to the team under the right circumstances.
Strickland has been a constant presence at Xtreme Couture since relocating to Las Vegas. He rarely misses a training session and is always ready for a fight. His relentless training attitude hasn’t changed, and according to team captain Brad Tavares, it’s a welcome addition to the gym.
Tavares believes Strickland is a great teammate. He admits that Strickland’s blunt manner can rub some people the wrong way. But Tavares insists that if you can look past that, you’ll see that Strickland is genuinely trying to help.
Strickland’s behavior has caused some concern in the past. For example, Henderson felt the need to warn Nicksick about Strickland before he started training at Xtreme Couture. But Nicksick believes that Strickland’s positives outweigh his negatives.
Despite the controversies, Strickland is a dedicated member of Xtreme Couture. He never calls in sick and is always ready to spar. His teammates appreciate his dedication, even if his methods are unconventional.
Max Rohskopf, a UFC and Bellator veteran, says his experiences with Strickland have always been positive. He describes Strickland as unconventional but not mean-spirited.
Strickland’s head coach, Nicksick, tries not to pay too much attention to what Strickland says. He believes actions speak louder than words. Nicksick praises Strickland for his dedication and loyalty to the team.
Alvey has seen Strickland grow over the years. He praises Strickland for his loyalty to his teammates. Alvey believes that Strickland would go to war for anyone who crosses his friends.
Strickland’s honesty and dedication have earned him the respect of his teammates. Tavares believes that if you can look past Strickland’s blunt manner, you’ll appreciate him as a teammate.
In conclusion, Sean Strickland is a complex