Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland grew up in Corona, California, in a household with a physically and mentally abusive father.[9][2] He has one brother.[10] During Strickland’s early childhood, he attacked his father with a guitar in an attempt to defend his mother out of fear he might kill her. Strickland fled from his house and contacted his local law enforcement leading to his father being briefly arrested. However, the next day his father was released from jail as his mother paid for his bail.[11] In Strickland’s adolescence, he developed a close relationship with his grandfather, who exposed him to neo-Nazi ideology.[12] In ninth grade Strickland was expelled from school for perpetrating a hate crime; afterwards, his mother brought him to an MMA gym to help him cope with his problems.[12] Strickland stated, "Then I started training and the moment I started training I was like...I don't hate anybody. Everyone's cool. Then a lot of people who helped me out in my life, they weren't white."[12] At the age of 18, Strickland had another violent altercation with his father again resulting in police involvement. However, no charges were pressed. Following this, Strickland and his mother moved out of his father’s house.[13] During a 2024 episode on the This Past Weekend podcast, he revealed that his father had died of cancer following a long-term drug addiction.[10]dos Anjos.[48] He won the fight via technical knockout.[49] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[50] 2021 Strickland faced Krzysztof Jotko on May 1, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka.[51] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[52] Strickland was expected to face Uriah Hall on August 7, 2021, at UFC 265.[53] However on June 4, 2021, the bout with Hall was moved to headline UFC on ESPN 28 on July 31, 2021.[54] During his training camp in the build up to this fight, he got into a physical altercation with sparring partner Orlando Sanchez, who he accused of trying to injure him.[55] Strickland defeated Hall via unanimous decision.[56] Strickland was scheduled to face former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold on November 6, 2021, at UFC 268.[57] However, on October 11, Rockhold withdrew due to a herniated disc.[58] 2022 Strickland faced Jack Hermansson on February 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 200.[59] He won the fight via split decision.[60] 21 out of 21 media outlets scored the fight for Strickland.[61] Judge Sal D'Amato, who scored the fight 48-47 for Hermansson, received widespread criticism for his scorecard.[62]Strickland was scheduled to face Alex Pereira on July 30, 2022, at UFC 277.[63] However, the promotion moved the pairing to UFC 276 on July 2, 2022.[64] Strickland lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[65]

Strickland was scheduled to face Jared Cannonier on October 15, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 212.[66] However, the bout was scrapped after Strickland withdrew due to a finger infection.[67] The pair was re-booked for UFC Fight Night 216 on December 17, 2022.[68] Strickland lost the fight via split decision.[69]

2023 In a quick turnaround, Strickland faced Nassourdine Imavov, replacing Kelvin Gastelum in a light heavyweight bout on January 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov.[70] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[71]

Strickland faced Abusupiyan Magomedov on July 1, 2023 at UFC on ESPN 48.[72] Strickland won the fight via TKO in the second round.[73] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[74]

UFC Middleweight Championship Strickland faced Israel Adesanya for the UFC Middleweight Championship on September 10, 2023, at UFC 293.[75] He won the fight via unanimous decision in what was considered a major upset, as Adesanya was a 7/1 betting favorite.[76][77] The win also earned Strickland his third Performance of the Night bonus award.[78]

2024 Strickland had his first title defense against Dricus du Plessis on January 20, 2024 at UFC 297.[79] The pair were in attendance at UFC 296 on December 16, 2023, seated within two rows of each-other by Dana White's arrangement.[80] While exchanging words, Strickland gestured for audience members to move and attacked du Plessis. The brawl was quickly broken up and Strickland was escorted out of the event.[81][82][83] Strickland lost the fight via split decision.[84] 13 out of 24 media outlets scored the bout for du Plessis.[85] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[86]

Post championship Strickland faced Paulo Costa on June 1, 2024, at UFC 302.[87] He won the fight by split decision.[88] Twenty-four media outlets unanimously scored the fight in favor of Strickland.[89]

2025 Strickland competed for the UFC Middleweight Championship in a rematch against the champion Dricus du Plessis on February 9, 2025, at UFC 312.[90] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[91]

2026 Strickland faced former LFA Middleweight Champion Anthony Hernandez in the main event on February 21, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 267.[92] He won the fight by technical knockout in the third round, ending Hernandez's eight‑fight win streak.[93] This fight earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night award.[94]

Second title reign Strickland faced UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026.[95] He won the title via split decision, handing Chimaev his first loss in mixed martial arts.[96] 11 out of 24 media outlets scored the bout for Strickland.[97]

Strickland was scheduled to defend his title in a rematch against Nassourdine Imavov on December 12, 2026 at UFC 335.[98] However, the bout did not come to fruition due to a reported pay dispute between Strickland and the UFC.[99]Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau's handling of the Canada convoy protest and Bud Light's advertising campaign featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.[127][128]

On January 18, 2024 at UFC 297 media day, when a reporter mentioned Strickland's controversial tweet, Strickland responded:

You're part of the big problem, a spineless creature who asks me stupid questions. Just ten years ago, being trans meant you were mentally ill, but people like you suddenly decided to change everything. You are an infection, you are the definition of weakness—everything wrong that happens to this world is because of you. The good thing is that the world didn't buy into this—it didn't buy into this nonsense and the agenda that you are pushing. There are two genders, and I don't want my children to be taught in school what their preferences should be. This guy is the fucking enemy! Look at the enemy of our world—here he is, sitting right here and asking his stupid questions.[129]

Strickland has made a number of controversial comments about women and women's rights, one of which was calling the decision to grant women the right to vote an error.[130][131] He has also commented negatively about women's MMA. In an interview, he said "Sure, have women's MMA, have it be a thing. I don't like to watch it. I don't think most people like to watch it. If the female MMA was to separate from the male MMA no-one's going to watch that shit".[132]

Strickland reiterated these views in February 2026, stating that "no one gives a fuck about women's sports", before adding: "There's nothing wrong with women. They do great things. They cook, they clean." He asserted that "too much" empowerment of women has "ruined society".[133]

Strickland was a harsh critic of the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, calling its headliner, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny, a "fucking faggot" and "a gay foreigner who doesn't speak fucking English".[133]

Suspension at Tuff-N-Uff event Sean Strickland was indefinitely suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on July 3, 2025. This decision extends a temporary suspension he received after a melee at a Tuff-N-Uff event on June 29, 2025. The altercation occurred immediately after a bout where Luis Hernandez defeated Miles Hunsinger by guillotine choke. Following his win, Hernandez reportedly taunted Hunsinger's coaches, including Strickland, with a "crotch chop", leading to Strickland's involvement in the physical altercation with Hernandez.[134][135] On August 21, Strickland received a six-month suspension from the NSAC and was fined $5,000. The suspension was retroactive from the time of the incident and expired on December 29, 2025.[136]• Unfiltered and Provocative: He speaks whatever is on his mind without a filter, often sharing politically charged, offensive, or controversial statements in interviews and press conferences. He sometimes claims parts of his behavior are meant as a joke, while other times doubling down on extreme remarks. • Intense and Volatile: He has openly discussed struggling with dark impulses, an abusive and troubled childhood, and a persistent internal aggression that he channels into mixed martial arts. He credits martial arts with keeping him out of prison. • Rejection of Faux Professionalism: He abandoned early attempts to play the clean-cut, suit-wearing corporate athlete because he felt it was fake and inauthentic to who he is. • Polarizing Appeal: While critics condemn his hostility and controversial rhetoric, many fans and peers view him as genuine, unapologetic, and refreshingly real in a sport often filled with rehearsed media training