Sean Strickland has never been one to shy away from chaos, and his latest suspension proves the line between his fiery personality and his fighting career continues to blur.
The former UFC middleweight champion was handed a six-month ban and a $5,000 fine by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after a wild scene at a Tuff-N-Uff event in Las Vegas in June.
Strickland was standing as a cornerman for his teammate, Miles Hunsinger, when he stormed the cage and attacked Luis Hernandez.
Hernandez had just submitted Hunsinger, and the UFC star lost it after the winner taunted his man in the octagon.
Cameras caught Strickland lunging forward and throwing multiple punches, for security pulled him away.
Fellow UFC fighter Chris Curtis, also in Hunsinger’s corner, got involved in the melee and was fined $1,860 but avoided a ban.
Sean Strickland agrees to anger management training
This is not the first time Strickland’s anger overcame him, and the NSAC has stated his suspension could drop to four and a half months if he completes anger management training.
The reduced penalty would allow Strickland to return to competition by mid-November rather than after Christmas.
The 34-year-old’s manager, Lance Spaude of Iridium Sports Agency, confirmed Strickland would undertake an anger management program.
It was always going to be an easy choice for Strickland, who’s desperate to return to the top after losing his belt to Dricus Du Plessis in Sydney.
And the division has a new king with Khamzat Chimaev, the man Strickland intends to take down on his return.
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Previous Sean Strickland incidents of rage
- UFC 312 – After losing his middleweight title to Dricus Du Plessis in a decisive defeat, Strickland displayed visible anger and aggression toward officials and judges in the post-fight interview.
- Criticism of women’s MMA – Strickland has previously taken digs at women’s MMA, describing it as ‘unwatchable’ and making insensitive comments on social media.
- Media outbursts – Strickland has a long history of confronting and being overly aggressive in response to media questions
- Sparring incidents – Former training partners have claimed Strickland can lose his head in sparring sessions, punching and kicking harder than necessary, with coaches often needing to intervene.
What’s next for Sean Strickland?
Strickland’s immediate future hinges on completing the required anger management program.
If he follows through, his suspension could be reduced with a mid-November return and an almost certain return to the UFC cage.
Strickland is a far cry from his highs of previous years and will almost certainly need a win in 2025 to revive his punctured UFC career.
Beyond the cage, he will need to manage his brutally damaged public perception and keep a lid on the controversial remarks and aggressive behaviour that have become all too commonplace.
How he balances discipline, training and the inevitable media scrutiny to make a spirited return to the sport will determine his next chapter.
Will it be a story of redemption or a sad spiral of turbulence?
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