Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
More Fantasy News
Drops belt in first defense
Strickland lost the UFC Middleweight Championship on Saturday, falling to Dricus Du Plessis via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 47-48) at UFC 297 in Toronto.
ANALYSIS
Strickland shocked the world with a dominant victory over Israel Adesanya last September to win the UFC Middleweight Championship, and he was unable to defend the belt even once. Sean's best round was the first. He worked behind his trademark jab and picked du Plessis apart. His output and effectiveness waned as the bout progressed. Strickland, who has always been a good defensive wrestler, gave up six takedowns here. He didn't absorb virtually any damage while on the mat, but it was a bad visual for the judges. He turned up the pace in Round 5, clearly winning the final round, but two of the three judges felt he lost rounds two through four. It's a fight that truly could have gone either way. While the loss is disappointing, Strickland is still firmly in the title conversation at 185 pounds. Both men will also walk away with $50,000 bonuses after this bout was awarded Fight of the Night honors.
Strickland shocked the world with a dominant victory over Israel Adesanya last September to win the UFC Middleweight Championship, and he was unable to defend the belt even once. Sean's best round was the first. He worked behind his trademark jab and picked du Plessis apart. His output and effectiveness waned as the bout progressed. Strickland, who has always been a good defensive wrestler, gave up six takedowns here. He didn't absorb virtually any damage while on the mat, but it was a bad visual for the judges. He turned up the pace in Round 5, clearly winning the final round, but two of the three judges felt he lost rounds two through four. It's a fight that truly could have gone either way. While the loss is disappointing, Strickland is still firmly in the title conversation at 185 pounds. Both men will also walk away with $50,000 bonuses after this bout was awarded Fight of the Night honors.
First defense scheduled
Strickland will defend the UFC Middleweight Championship against Dricus Du Plessis in Toronto at UFC 297 on Jan. 20, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Strickland upset Israel Adesanya to win the UFC Middleweight Championship. The former was waiting for his inaugural title challenger, which first seemed to be determined by the title eliminator between Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, which the latter won. Instead, Chimaev will wait behind Du Plessis, who has been waiting for a title fight in his own right after defeating Robert Whittaker at UFC 290.
Strickland upset Israel Adesanya to win the UFC Middleweight Championship. The former was waiting for his inaugural title challenger, which first seemed to be determined by the title eliminator between Kamaru Usman and Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, which the latter won. Instead, Chimaev will wait behind Du Plessis, who has been waiting for a title fight in his own right after defeating Robert Whittaker at UFC 290.
Epic effort to win UFC gold
Strickland became the new UFC Middleweight Champion on Saturday, defeating Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia.
ANALYSIS
If you thought Strickland was going to change his style of fighting in the biggest bout of his career, you don't know the man. He stuck with what got him here, and the end result was UFC gold and one of the biggest upsets in company history. Simply put, Sean beat Adesanya up from bell-to-bell. In Round 1 he became the first man to knock Izzy down, nearly earning the stoppage. Adesanya regained momentum in Round 2, but Strickland stayed composed and dominated the vast majority of the final 15 minutes. He constantly pushed forward, remained in Izzy's face and fired off counter shots. When Adesanya was slow to pull the trigger, Sean recognized that and went first. There's zero doubt which man landed the more damaging shots for the duration of the bout. Remember, the UFC wanted Dricus Du Plessis in this spot, but he wasn't ready to go. Strickland stepped up and made history as a +500 underdog. He also took home a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts here. The odds may be against the 32-year-old California native holding the belt for any significant length of time in a stacked middleweight division, but that's irrelevant right now. Kudos on a brilliant performance.
If you thought Strickland was going to change his style of fighting in the biggest bout of his career, you don't know the man. He stuck with what got him here, and the end result was UFC gold and one of the biggest upsets in company history. Simply put, Sean beat Adesanya up from bell-to-bell. In Round 1 he became the first man to knock Izzy down, nearly earning the stoppage. Adesanya regained momentum in Round 2, but Strickland stayed composed and dominated the vast majority of the final 15 minutes. He constantly pushed forward, remained in Izzy's face and fired off counter shots. When Adesanya was slow to pull the trigger, Sean recognized that and went first. There's zero doubt which man landed the more damaging shots for the duration of the bout. Remember, the UFC wanted Dricus Du Plessis in this spot, but he wasn't ready to go. Strickland stepped up and made history as a +500 underdog. He also took home a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his efforts here. The odds may be against the 32-year-old California native holding the belt for any significant length of time in a stacked middleweight division, but that's irrelevant right now. Kudos on a brilliant performance.
Getting title shot in Sydney
Strickland will face off against Israel Adesanya in the UFC Middleweight Championship in Sydney at UFC 293 on Sept. 9, MMA reporter Ariel Helwani reports.
ANALYSIS
Strickland was next in line to get a shot at the belt with Dricus Du Plessis not able to make the nine-week turnaround from UFC 290 due to a sore foot. Strickland fought on July 1 in which he defeated Abusupiyan Magomedov by TKO. Adesanya regained the Middleweight title back in April when he knocked out Alex Pereira.
Strickland was next in line to get a shot at the belt with Dricus Du Plessis not able to make the nine-week turnaround from UFC 290 due to a sore foot. Strickland fought on July 1 in which he defeated Abusupiyan Magomedov by TKO. Adesanya regained the Middleweight title back in April when he knocked out Alex Pereira.
Fights through slow start for win
Strickland defeated Abusupiyan Magomedov via TKO (punches) at 4:20 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Strickland has been doing this a long time. He's been in there against some of the best in the world, many for five rounds. So while the eye poke he absorbed immediately and his subsequent poor opening frame were concerning, it should come as no surprise he found a way to emerge victorious. Of course, the catalyst behind all that was one of the most impressive gas jobs we have seen in recent memory from Magomedov. Strickland can fight for ten rounds, working behind his jab, so once Magomedov slowed to a crawl in Round 2, Strickland took full advantage. What appeared shaky in the early going, turned into a rout less than five minutes later. Sean has struggled in his opportunities against the elite at 185 pounds, but he's handled most everyone else. He continues to be a highly undervalued member of the UFC roster.
Strickland has been doing this a long time. He's been in there against some of the best in the world, many for five rounds. So while the eye poke he absorbed immediately and his subsequent poor opening frame were concerning, it should come as no surprise he found a way to emerge victorious. Of course, the catalyst behind all that was one of the most impressive gas jobs we have seen in recent memory from Magomedov. Strickland can fight for ten rounds, working behind his jab, so once Magomedov slowed to a crawl in Round 2, Strickland took full advantage. What appeared shaky in the early going, turned into a rout less than five minutes later. Sean has struggled in his opportunities against the elite at 185 pounds, but he's handled most everyone else. He continues to be a highly undervalued member of the UFC roster.