Even after a long break from the sport, one former titleholder is leaving no stone unturned in his preparations.
Next year is shaping up to be a busy season for the UFC, with a steady flow of fight announcements filling out the early part of the 2026 calendar.
As the promotion begins its new era with Paramount, the initial fight cards are rapidly taking shape, with Reinier de Ridder reportedly set to join the line-up for UFC 326.
One fighter had originally been lined up for a return at UFC 325, which will be headlined by Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes in a rematch that caught many off guard.
Even though his comeback was delayed several weeks after turning down that initial offer, he has not let it slow him down in training.
Sean Strickland does not hold back even when taking on three opponents inside the cage
Sean Strickland recently shared that he turned down a spot at UFC 325 in Australia, despite his strong connection with fans there.
The fight he was offered will instead take place in Houston, Texas on February 25, where he will face Anthony Hernandez in the main event of a Fight Night card.
Strickland also noted that his suspension was due to end around the same time as the original fight date, which played a part in his decision to wait.
The former UFC middleweight champion has not fought since last February, but that has not kept him from staying active in other ways.
One of those ways is by taking part in influencer fights inside the cage, where he is known for not going easy on amateurs.
Strickland showed this again during Adin Ross’ recent stream, where he took on three people at once and handled them without much trouble. He even ended the session with a few strong shots to make his point clear.
Sean Strickland has not been sold on the idea of fighting at the White House
‘Tarzan’ has his eyes set on middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev and sees Anthony Hernandez as the right match-up to push him back into title contention.
Speaking during Adin Ross’ stream, the former champion mentioned that fighting at the White House in June is not something he is pushing for right now.
If he comes out on top in his next bout, it would be no surprise to see him added to a high-profile middleweight fight on that card, considering he is one of the biggest American names in the division.
He said that while it would be ‘dope,’ it would only really interest him if fans could attend instead of it being an exclusive guestlist event.
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