Nobody is off limits to Sean Strickland’s antics, including current and former US Military.
Strickland gears up for his second shot at UFC gold when he takes on Dricus Du Plessis in the main event of UFC 312 this weekend. During fight week, Strickland has ranted at Khamzat Chimaev, and an Australian newspaper blasted Strickland as the ‘UFC’s biggest imbecile.’ Though, to MMA fans, this is nothing new.
Fight fans have been on the Strickland rollercoaster since his emergence in 2020, and he started to take off when he began trash-talking just about everybody, including NAVY Seals, one of whom he beat up in a sparring challenge in 2024.
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When Sean Strickland manhandled a former NAVY Seal in the gym
In a video from July 2024, Strickland sparred with former NAVY Seal and professional MMA fighter Mitch Aguiar. Aguiar responded to an open invitation from Strickland to spar him at the gym.
‘Tarzan’ got Aguiar to sign a waiver before entering the ring. “I know you’re in the Navy, bro. So let’s not make this weird,” Strickland jested.
From here, Strickland beat the breaks off Aguiar, primarily with leg kicks. “I don’t wanna knock you out; I wanna make you quit,” He exclaimed. “[…] You know you’re gonna quit, Mitch.”
Strickland bloodied Aguiar’s nose and battered his lead leg with kicks. At one point, he was close to finishing Aguiar with body shots and a head kick, but Aguiar persisted – at the mercy of Strickland. After 25 minutes, the two fighters exchanged respect.
Sean Strickland spars with kickboxing world champion
During his time in Japan last year, Strickland was invited to spar by K-1 kickboxer Rukiya Anpo – who fought Manny Pacquiao in RIZIN. A former K-1 super lightweight champion, Anpo was scheduled to fight Ryan Garcia before that fight fell through at RIZIN DECADE.
In the video, Anpo fails to get the edge on Strickland, who keeps his fighting economy in check and outworks Anpo throughout the session.