Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has shared his side of what happened when he stormed the cage at Tuff-N-Uff 145.
Sean Strickland‘s UFC return timeline hit a potentially significant delay after he stormed the cage and attacked his teammate’s opponent at Tuff-N-Uff 145.
Strickland and middleweight Chris Curtis cornered Miles Hunsinger at Tuff-N-Uff 145 on Sunday in Las Vegas. The three Xtreme Couture teammates are longtime friends and allies, and all three have proven not to be afraid of a scrap in and out of the cage.
After Hunsinger lost to middleweight Luis Hernandez by submission, Hernandez mocked and made an X-rated gesture towards Strickland and Curtis. The two middleweights then stormed the cage and confronted Hernandez, with Strickland landing several punches to Hernandez’s head before security personnel intervened.
Sean Strickland shares his side to wild post-fight brawl at Tuff-N-Uff 145
It was a wild end to what was a very competitive fight on the Tuff-N-Uff 145 undercard. Strickland and Curtis were immediately escorted out of the arena following the incident.
For the first time since the post-fight brawl went viral, Strickland has explained why he stormed into the cage and attacked Hernandez.
In a pair of posts to his Instagram story, Strickland shared his side of what happened at Tuff-N-Uff 145.
“So after the fight, you guys see me corner guys all the time, I’m the first one to shake their hand and say ‘I wish you well, on to the next one’. But after the fight this guy comes up to me, calls me by name, ‘Strickland’, calls me a b—-, says he’s going to f—- me up,” Strickland began.
“Does the hand gesture…as a man, I’m not capable not to answer that. If I walk down the street, if I leave my house and somebody says that, my soul will not allow that to not go unanswered. I cannot do it, I cannot f—– do it…
“If I could go back, would I just not corner the fight? Would I not put myself in that situation? Yes.
“But I just don’t have the ability to let a man talk to me like that. Who I am as a person, I will never allow that. So it is what it is, man.”
Strickland faces a potential Nevada State Athletic Commission suspension following the incident, after the commission sanctioned the Tuff-N-Uff 145 event. As of this writing, the commission hasn’t issued any public statements since Strickland and Curtis charged the cage.
Strickland hasn’t fought since a middleweight rematch against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312. At UFC 296, Strickland and du Plessis got into a cageside brawl ahead of their first clash in the Octagon.
Sean Strickland faces potential suspension after Tuff-N-Uff 145 incident
Strickland’s actions are the latest in a slew of controversies surrounding the former UFC champion over his promotional tenure. Strickland has been involved in numerous road rage incidents, and several controversial sparring sessions, during his ascent to UFC stardom.
As of this writing, UFC CEO Dana White hasn’t spoken out on Strickland, although he’s been repeatedly critical of the former middleweight champ during his career.
Before losing to du Plessis at UFC 312, Strickland defeated former title challenger Paulo Costa at UFC 302. After his loss at UFC 312, Strickland and his longtime coach Eric Nicksick got into a brief, albeit public feud over Nicksick’s criticism of his performance.
Strickland remains unbooked for his next UFC fight and a timeline for his return is uncertain.