MMA opinion: Will Sean Strickland have a chance at middleweight gold again?
Sean Strickland is a controversial figure in the world of MMA.
The former middleweight champion pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history after his win against Israel Adesanya in 2023.
But does he still have the skills to take back the belt from Khamzat Chimaev? Sport News Blitz writer Cameron Cleugh gives his opinion.
Strickland’s controversial rise through the UFC middleweight rankings drew the eyes of many UFC fans.
His loud mouth and purposely offensive antics lead many to question if his personality was just to gain attention on social media.
However, there is one thing that is undeniable - his talent in the octagon.
UFC Fight Night - Strickland vs Hernandez
This past weekend we saw Strickland dish out a spectacular TKO victory against Anthony Hernandez to keep his number-three ranking at middleweight.
The win has led many to wonder if it would be possible to see Strickland rise back through the ranks and earn a title shot against Chimaev.
During Strickland’s post-fight interview, he called out Chimaev stating: Were he to “ever get off the bench he’d want a piece of that.”
This is in reference to Chimaev having to take time off due to illness and injury.
But were they to fight, what are Strickland’s chances at beating the ‘Wolf’?
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Potential Strickland v Chimaev match-up
At first glance, it does not look promising for Strickland, given his style leans so heavily on an upright stance and heavy use of striking that almost invites takedowns.
This paired with Chimaev’s elite-level wrestling and submission threat could mean we see a repeat of Chimaev’s fight against Kevin Holland where the grappling threat was immediate, which led to a submission win.
Strickland would have to adapt to Chimaev’s wrestling threat quickly otherwise it would be a quick night for both of them.
However, during his most recent fight against Hernandez, Strickland negated take downs and imposed his will, essentially turning the fight into a boxing match.
Assuming Strickland can negate Chimaev’s wrestling this still presents its own unique challenges.
Chimaev v Strickland analysis
Khamzat has a 17-second knockout over Gerald Meerschaert, indicating his threat in stand- up and in grappling exchanges.
Strickland on the other hand, is known for lacking power - he wobbled Israel Adesanya during their bout but was unable to finish him even after a flurry of undefended strikes against the cage.
Strickland's frequent use of fundamental strikes such as the jab and teep kick present opportunities for Chimaev to either counter strike or secure a takedown.
Strickland has a chance if he prepares incredibly hard in the build-up to the fight - focusing heavily on an anti-wrestling approach and overwhelming volume on the feet to smother Chimaev.
It would be a tough fight for Strickland, but fans have previously counted him out, notably before his bout against Adesanya, where he managed to walk away victorious.
Chances of the bout happening
It must be noted that Strickland will not be given a title shot easily, as Dricus Du Plessis (DDP) sits at the top of the rankings after his loss to Chimaev.
Strickland and DDP have already fought twice and while trilogy fights can occur they are quite rare in the UFC.
This makes a title eliminator between the two seem even less likely.
The only saving grace in this situation is that the judges decision that DDP won the first fight was controversial, with Dana White himself stating he scored the fight 3-2 to Strickland.
A rematch for DDP and Strickland would clear the air on the controversy and give us a clearer idea of who deserves a title shot.
To conclude, while Strickland has a chance to become the UFC middleweight champion again, it's going to be an uphill battle to get past both DDP and then Chimaev.
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