Sean Strickland is dying to get back in the UFC Octagon.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Strickland is currently serving a six-month suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission for attacking a regional MMA fighter at a Tuff-N-Uff event in June.
Strickland hasn’t fought since his title fight loss to then champion Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 in February.
Israel Adesanya, a former rival of his, had initially offered to fight Strickland earlier this year, but Strickland won’t be able to fight until his suspension is lifted in November.
Strickland stated a few days ago that he needs a fight in Las Vegas in December, but a fellow middleweight contender has a different place in mind.
Robert Whittaker calls for Sean Strickland fight in Australia
Like Strickland, Robert Whittaker wants to get back to the win column.
The former middleweight champion is coming off back-to-back losses to current champion Khamzat Chimaev and Reinier de Ridder.
In danger of the worst losing skid of his career, Australia’s Whittaker says he’d be more than happy to fight the #3-ranked Strickland on home soil in February.
“I wanna fight in Sydney next Feb,” Whittaker said on the MMArcade Podcast.
“That’s where I wanna fight next.
“I’d love to fight Strickland,” Whittaker said.
“I’ve been wanting that fight for a while.
“I think it’d be a good fight. He always brings people to cards.”
Despite his wishes, Whittaker has his doubts Strickland fights in Australia as the controversial American contender has voiced his dislike for the Australian government during his past two fight weeks in Sydney.
“I don’t think he’ll come all the way here to Australia,” Whittaker admitted.
“I heard he has the best rapport with the Australian government,” Whittaker said sarcastically.
“But I don’t know. Let’s see what happens….”
Sean Strickland is 1-1 fighting in Sydney, Australia
Strickland has made the trip ‘down under’ twice in his UFC career.
The first time Strickland traveled to Australia was for his title fight against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in Sydney in 2023.
Strickland won over the Australian fans with his antics during fight week and gained even more notoriety when he dethroned Adesanya by decision in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
Strickland wanted that to be the last time he fought in Sydney, but that wasn’t the case as he challenged Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title there again at UFC 312 in February.
Du Plessis defeated Strickland via unanimous decision, breaking his nose in the process.