Sean Strickland

Blunt-spoken pressure striker who won and lost the middleweight title before reclaiming it via split decision over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 (May 2026).

Born in Anaheim, California, on 27 February 1991 and raised in Corona, Sean Strickland has spoken openly about a turbulent and abusive childhood, crediting mixed martial arts with giving his life structure and direction. He built his early professional foundation in the regional California scene and King of the Cage, where he won and defended the promotion's middleweight title before signing with the UFC. Strickland's career-defining moment came at UFC 293 in Sydney on 10 September 2023, when he outworked reigning champion Israel Adesanya over five rounds to win the UFC Middleweight Championship in one of the division's biggest upsets. He lost the title in his first defense to Dricus du Plessis by split decision at UFC 297, before beating Paulo Costa and then dropping a rematch to du Plessis at UFC 312. Strickland rebounded with a third-round TKO of Anthony Hernandez in February 2026, then produced the signature win of his career at UFC 328 in Newark on 9 May 2026, defeating previously undefeated Khamzat Chimaev by split decision after five gruelling rounds to reclaim the UFC Middleweight Championship for a second time. Known as much for his blunt, unfiltered public persona as for his volume-heavy pressure-boxing inside the cage, Strickland fights out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas under coach Eric Nicksick. His resume includes fights against a host of champions, including Adesanya, du Plessis, Kamaru Usman and Alex Pereira.

Relentless, volume-heavy pressure boxing built on constant forward movement

A two-time UFC Middleweight Champion known for his durability, pressure-boxing style and outspoken persona

• UFC Middleweight Championship two times, current, 2023, 2026
• KOTC Middleweight Championship, regional, one time, 5 defenses