The unexpected rise of Sean Strickland to UFC champion was fueled by his relentless wins, standout performances, and polarizing personality. But in his last fight, he looked off—far from the aggressive fighter who dominated Israel Adesanya. Fans didn’t expect such a lackluster showing, and neither did his coach. Now, looking back, Strickland’s coach isn’t holding back, calling the performance uninspiring. It’s a harsh reality check for Strickland, who must now prove he’s still the same dangerous fighter.
Sean Strickland had built a reputation for his relentless aggression, but in his last fight at UFC 312, he never truly went to war despite setting those expectations. His coach, Eric Nicksick, didn’t hold back in his criticism, describing the performance as sleepwalking. Strickland seemed hesitant, leaving Nicksick frustrated as he tried to snap him out of it. With a title on the line, the lack of urgency was disappointing, raising questions about what went wrong and where Strickland goes from here.
Nicksick said, “It was just uninspired fighting to me… It seemed like he was sleepwalking. I was just trying to dig him out of it. I did not know if he was trying to collect data in the beginning or if it was just a slow start. Let’s not forget this is a title fight, I take these title fights very seriously. I was disappointed.”
Sean Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick was not satisfied with his performance at #UFC312 😬
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 11, 2025
“It was just uninspired fighting… it seemed like he was sleepwalking…
I want to coach world champions.”
🎥 @arielhelwani #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/w5ZlYDpt5T
Hasbulla Took Shot At Sean Strickland
Hasbulla didn’t waste any time clowning Sean Strickland after his UFC 312 loss, posting an AI-generated video of Strickland doing a ballet dance. Their beef isn’t new—Hasbulla sparked controversy with a cat video, and Strickland fired shots at him. But this isn’t just personal. Hasbulla is a proud member of Team Khabib, a camp Strickland has also criticized in the past. With Strickland’s recent loss, Hasbulla saw the perfect chance to fire back.
Indeed, with each passing day, someone takes a shot at Sean Strickland—sometimes for personal reasons, other times out of loyalty to their team. His outspoken nature and past comments have made him a target, especially among fighters and camps he’s criticized. Whether it’s Hasbulla trolling him or fighters from Team Khabib clapping back, Strickland’s name stays in the conversation, even after a tough loss.
Also Read: Belal Muhammad Takes A Nasty Dig On Sean Strickland Following UFC 312 Loss
