Ali Akbar Rosady
Sean Strickland, the outspoken former UFC middleweight champion, is poised for his return to the Octagon as his six-month suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) nears its conclusion. While eager to compete, Strickland has confirmed he will not be part of the highly anticipated UFC 325 event scheduled for Australia, citing specific financial and logistical concerns related to medical insurance. Concurrently, Strickland delivered a scathing critique of current middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, accusing him of holding up the division through inactivity.
Strickland’s suspension, a significant period of enforced absence from competition, stemmed from an incident at a Tuff-N-Uff amateur mixed martial arts event in Las Vegas. The altercation, which occurred after a fight where Luis Hernandez defeated Miles Hunsinger, saw Strickland — who was coaching Hunsinger — jump into the cage and physically confront Hernandez. The Nevada Athletic Commission subsequently imposed a six-month ban and a fine, underscoring the strict regulations governing fighter conduct both inside and outside professional bouts.
The incident gained considerable attention due to its unusual nature, involving a high-profile UFC fighter intervening in an amateur contest. Hernandez, who serves as a deputy sheriff when not competing, reportedly did not pursue further legal action against Strickland. Despite the professional repercussions, Strickland has maintained a defiant stance regarding his actions. Speaking on Instagram as his suspension neared its end, he expressed no remorse. "Guys my suspension is up in like 10 days, I’m so f*cking stoked!" Strickland stated. "I just need like 8 weeks, 10 weeks, I’m a little fat. But did this suspension suck? Hell yes, it sucked but would I do it again to hit that guy in the face? Yes, I would." He further elaborated on his conviction, asserting, "If a man tells you to do that, you’ve got to fight him, there’s no other way. You’ve got to send it. Cop or not, you’ve got to send it so yeah, I’d hit that cop again." These remarks reflect Strickland’s established persona as a fighter who operates with a raw, often controversial, code of conduct, a characteristic that has both endeared him to some fans and drawn criticism from others.
With his suspension set to expire, the immediate question turned to Strickland’s next fight. UFC 325 in Australia was floated as a potential return venue, given the promotion’s frequent use of international cards for major matchups. However, Strickland unequivocally stated his refusal. "Yes, I did say no to the Australia card," he confirmed. His reasoning centered on the financial implications of competing abroad, particularly concerning medical insurance. "Australia, I fcking love you guys. You guys are all white trash, you’re all like minded. I feel like we’re one and the same but I don’t have medical insurance. You want me to go get my first fight back in Australia and give half my check to you fckers and buy your medical insurance? I ain’t f*cking doing it. I ain’t doing it."
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This statement highlights a persistent concern among professional athletes regarding the financial burdens associated with international competitions, especially in jurisdictions where specific insurance or tax requirements might significantly reduce a fighter’s take-home pay. For a fighter like Strickland, who recently lost his middleweight title and endured a six-month suspension, optimizing earnings for his return bout is likely a primary consideration. His preference for a fight "in the states" underscores a desire for a more straightforward financial arrangement, free from the complexities he perceives in overseas events. He also mentioned that fellow middleweight Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez shared his sentiment regarding the Australian card, indicating a broader issue some fighters may face with international bookings. Strickland, identifying as "an American… one of the few real Americans fighting in the UFC, other than Bryce [Mitchell]," emphasized his desire to fight on home soil.
The fighter Strickland expressed interest in facing is Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez. Hernandez, currently ranked in the top 15 of the middleweight division, is on an impressive win streak, having secured his eighth consecutive victory in his last outing. He has demonstrated a high-volume, submission-oriented grappling style that has proven effective against a range of opponents. Hernandez was previously slated for a high-profile bout against Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 294 in October, a fight that could have significantly elevated his standing, but he was forced to withdraw due to injury. A matchup against Strickland, a former champion and a top-ranked contender, would represent a significant step up for Hernandez and a critical test for Strickland in his bid to re-establish himself in the division. While Strickland acknowledged that the fight is not yet finalized, he voiced strong interest: "Anyways, that being said, I love the ‘Fluffy’ fight. Let’s get this sh*t booked in the states." This potential bout, projected by some to materialize in 2026, would pit two aggressive middleweights against each other, promising an exciting encounter for fans.
Strickland’s last appearance in the Octagon was in February, where he lost his middleweight title to Dricus du Plessis via a split decision in a grueling five-round contest. The loss marked the end of his unexpected but impactful reign as champion, which began with a dominant performance against Israel Adesanya in September. As he looks to rebound, Strickland articulated frustration with the overall state of the middleweight division, placing the blame squarely on the current champion, Khamzat Chimaev.
Chimaev, who captured the middleweight title in August by defeating Robert Whittaker, has since been sidelined by a combination of factors, leading to a perceived stagnation in the division. Strickland, known for his unfiltered criticism, did not hold back. "A little insight on the middleweight division – the middleweight division’s on f*cking ice," Strickland lamented. He directly addressed Chimaev’s reasons for inactivity, stating, "You’ve got [Khamzat] Chimaev, the little whore, he has Ramadan and then he has a surgery and then he’s going to fight Nassourdine [Imavov] in a year and just dry hump Nassourdine and then he’s going to have to go back home and kiss the dictator and maybe his ovaries are hurting. So the middleweight division doesn’t exist."
Chimaev’s camp has publicly stated that a minor surgery and the observance of Ramadan in early 2026 would keep him out of action for an extended period, pushing his next potential fight into the latter half of the new year. While these are legitimate personal and religious considerations, Strickland’s comments reflect a growing frustration among contenders and fans alike over the perceived slow pace of title defenses in certain divisions. The accusation that Chimaev is "holding up" the division implies that other top contenders are being denied opportunities to compete for the championship or advance their rankings due to the champion’s prolonged absence.
Strickland’s pointed remarks about Chimaev "kissing the dictator" are a clear reference to the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, with whom Chimaev has a documented association. This connection has been a recurring point of contention and criticism for Chimaev throughout his career, often drawing scrutiny from human rights organizations and international observers. Strickland’s use of such provocative language aligns with his characteristic no-holds-barred commentary, aiming to undermine Chimaev’s image and question his commitment to active championship defense.
The former champion concluded his critique by expressing extreme disillusionment with the middleweight landscape. "I’d be better off trying to fight for a 205 [pound] belt than I would the middleweight belt. It don’t exist anymore. That’s what we got when we got that little whore in. So after he goes and fights and kisses the ring and says ‘Daddy [Ramzan] Kadyrov, can I fight again? Do you want me to go do jiu-jitsu with your kid?’ Then it will get set up. The middleweight division’s on ice." This sentiment highlights the potential ripple effect of an inactive champion, where other contenders might consider moving to different weight classes in search of more consistent opportunities and clearer paths to a title shot.
As Sean Strickland’s suspension concludes, his immediate future appears to involve a strong desire for a fight against Anthony "Fluffy" Hernandez on American soil. His broader outlook, however, remains intertwined with his critical assessment of the middleweight division’s current trajectory under Khamzat Chimaev’s reign, signaling a potential period of turbulence and outspoken commentary from the former champion as he plots his path back to contention.
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