Coach Eric Nicksick has shared a behind-the-scenes sparring story, ahead of Sean Strickland’s fight against Paulo Costa at UFC 302 this coming Saturday.
Coming off his middleweight title fight loss to Dricus Du Plessis this past January, Sean Strickland returns to the Octagon at UFC 302 this weekend, taking on Paulo Costa in a title eliminator fight.
The Brazilian’s last fight came against Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 in February, where he was beaten comfortably over a three-round decision.
Although Dricus Du Plessis’ first 185lb title defense is yet to be confirmed by the promotion, it is rumored to be against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, in Perth.
Erick Nicksick provides sparring story ahead of UFC 302
Despite his fight against ‘The Eraser’ being the co-main event, it is one of the rare occasions where it will be contested over five rounds instead of three, likely playing into Strickland’s favor.
After feeling hard done by that he wasn’t given an immediate rematch against Du Plessis, Strickland is heading into UFC 302 with a point to prove.
“I said something to Sean (Strickland) a few weeks ago when he was sparring, and I actually saw it resonate with him.” Strickland’s head coach, Eric Nicksick told Submission Radio.
“He was winning all of his rounds, he won rounds one, two, and three, he won them, but I said something going into rounds (four) and five, I was like hey bro, you’re sparring like you fought Dricus, you fought Dricus not to lose, I want you to fight like you fought (Israel Adesanya) and that was with nothing to lose.”
The 33-year-old’s unexpected title shot against Adesanya resulted in one of the biggest upsets in UFC title fight history, and Nicksick wants his student to fight with no pressure again.
“He had nothing to lose (against Adesanya), he fought Izzy differently. I said he lost to Dricus because he just didn’t have that edge that I normally felt from him. So rounds four and five, he ended up beating the crap out of the last two guys and that’s what I want out of him.” Nicksick added.
Nicksick wants Strickland to drag Costa into ‘deep waters’
The last time ‘Borrachinha’ fought five rounds was back in 2021 against Marvin Vettori, and although it was a close fight, the Brazilian couldn’t quite get over the hump.
The Xtreme Couture head coach wants Strickland to utilize his cardio advantage and drag Costa into deep waters during their five-round fight.
“The five rounds definitely favor us and that’s the mentality right now is to try and drag this dude into some deep waters, so I’m hoping we can get him out of there by round four or five, but this dude’s tough, gritty and durable but it’s going to be up to us to keep chipping away at him.” Nicksick added.
Current UFC interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, has spent a little bit of time over at Xtreme Couture ahead of his UFC 304 fight against Curtis Blaydes, and he has helped in preparing Strickland for UFC 302.
Towards the end of his camp, Strickland also sparred with former UFC light heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill, who is preparing for his own fight at UFC 303 on June 29th.
Even with a win over Costa at UFC 302, Strickland may have to wait for another title shot, as Robert Whittaker takes on Khamzat Chimaev on June 22nd, with the winner of that likely being next in line.
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