Fans are privy to Sean Strickland’s softer side as he’s seen interacting with women’s UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili days out from their appearances at UFC 312.
UFC 312 features two title fights as Dricus du Plessis makes his second middleweight defense against Sean Strickland. Zhang Weili defends her strawweight title for a third time against Tatiana Suarez. While not the highest-profile card, Weili vs. Suarez is about as elite as women’s MMA gets.
Despite this, perennial troublemaker Strickland is keen to risk it all by asking Weili to show him her power by striking him in the stomach just days out from their fights.
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Sean Strickland asks Zhang Weili to hit him days out from UFC 312
On the UFC Embedded show, behind-the-scenes footage captures Strickland interacting with Weili. It’s an oddly wholesome moment for ‘Tarzan,’ who went scorched earth on Khamzat Chimaev this week. The war of words between Strickland and Chimaev was spurred on by Chimaev mocking Strickland’s troubled childhood.
“Let’s see what you got, I’ll take a teep [front kick],” Strickland lifts his shirt for Weili to hit him.
Weili jests, “I’ll have to give you gear, or you will miss your fight. If I punch you, you will miss your fight.”
They laughed, and Strickland wished Weili all the best in her fight.
Aside from this moment, Strickland has promoted his UFC 312 appearance well. Strickland and Du Plessis traded idle barbs at the pre-fight press conference, unlike their ugly feud at UFC 297.
UFC embraces bad-boy narrative for Sean Strickland at UFC 312
Strickland’s amiability with ‘Stillknocks’ didn’t stop the UFC from pushing his bad-boy narrative. The official UFC X account shared a snippet of The Daily Telegraph, where Strickland made the front page.
Usually pushing down Strickland’s pre-fight antics, the UFC shared the following headline.
“UFC’S BIGGEST IMBECILE… In Sydney yesterday, UFC fighter Sean Strickland… said Aussies are ‘English White trash,’ called our gun laws ‘pathetic,’ went on a racist tirade, and dared our Government to ban him. Will someone, please… KNOCK THIS GUY OUT.”
In light of recent controversies concerning Conor McGregor and Bryce Mitchell, the UFC looks to be embracing their heel characters.