Sean Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, is making waves with a bold claim about his fighter’s future. Nicksick believes Strickland never lost the belt—a big statement in itself. He further wants him to get a shot at the middleweight title sooner rather than later.
The MMA community is buzzing with anticipation for UFC 305. The main event features a middleweight title clash between Israel Adesanya and Dricus du Plessis. But Nicksick is already looking beyond this bout, eyeing a November or December date for Strickland.
“In my head, he [Sean Strickland] never lost the belt. It was such a close fight with Dricus. He dominated Izzy. I think if Izzy wins that fight that’s an easy rematch. If Dricus wins, you think [he will] give Sean the opportunity to avenge that loss. These guys fight next week, so we can fight by November or December,” said Nicksick via MMA Fighting.
The coach’s logic is simple: regardless of who wins at UFC 305, Strickland fits. If Adesanya reclaims the belt, he’ll want revenge against Strickland. And if Du Plessis retains, a rematch with Strickland makes perfect sense. Nicksick suggests a November or December date for Strickland’s title shot. This would allow the UFC 305 winner adequate time to recover and prepare.
However, the MMA world is rarely this straightforward, and the MMA math usually doesn’t work. Other contenders are lurking in the shadows. Khamzat Chimaev and Robert Whittaker are set to face off soon, and the winner of that bout could throw a wrench into Nicksick’s plans. The sport is unpredictable, and the outcome of that fight will set the stage for what’s to come.
Dricus Du Plessis Believes He Doesn’t Owe Sean Strickland A Rematch
Rematches are often as anticipated as the initial bouts. However, one champion is bucking the trend. Du Plessis, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, has raised eyebrows with his recent statements. He has clarified that he doesn’t feel owing Strickland a rematch.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
Since Du Plessis dethroned Strickland at UFC 297, the MMA community has been in shock. It was a close fight, with opinions divided on the outcome. Many fans and analysts believed Strickland had done enough to retain his title, but Du Plessis sees things differently.
“I don’t owe Sean anything. The rules are pretty clear: It’s scored round by round. The fact that it was a split decision is the biggest shocking factor for me. It was a very clear win for me,” said Du Plessis via Kevin Iole.
Du Plessis pointed to the round-by-round scoring system as justification for his stance. He expressed surprise that the decision was even split. In his mind, it was a “very clear win” for him. But Sean Strickland saw it in a different light. With UFC 305 right around the corner, it remains to be seen if Du Plessis can edge out the ever-dangerous Israel Adesanya to worry about the next title contender.
Also Read: Election Drama Heats Up As Donald Trump Slams Joe Rogan For Praising Political Rival RFK Jr.
