Sean Strickland is probably going going to have a barely completely different group of coaches surrounding him when he returns for his subsequent combat after a tumultuous night time at UFC 312.
The previous middleweight champion launched a prolonged video on Twitter addressing his shortcomings within the rematch with Dricus du Plessis in addition to feedback made by Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick the place he mentioned throughout an look on The Ariel Helwani Present that it was a “very underwhelming efficiency” and an “uninspiring” effort from Strickland. Whereas Strickland guarantees that he’s going to keep up a friendship with Nicksick going ahead as he plans to proceed coaching at Xtreme Couture, it’s seemingly that the veteran coach received’t be again in his nook once more.
“I like Eric [Nicksick],” Strickland mentioned in a video posted on Twitter. “He’s a pal of mine and he’s going to proceed to be a pal of mine. Will he most likely be in my nook? In all probability not. We now have so many nice guys at Xtreme [Couture], Nate [Pettit], Ray Sefo, we’ve got so many savages that I might like to nook me.
“However that complete combat camp was only a battle. It was a f*cking battle. All of us have excuses as to why we didn’t win or why we received and we shouldn’t have received. All of us f*cking have excuses and so they don’t f*cking matter. The one motive I’m doing this video is Eric needed to go do a f*cking podcast and turn out to be an influencer so I’ve obtained to be like type of clarify myself.”
Strickland revealed that he really had a damaged bone in his arm simply a few months out from the combat whereas he additionally suffered by a staph an infection, which was introduced up by du Plessis throughout combat week.
The entire ordeal took a toll on Strickland however he stored pushing by his coaching periods with the mindset that he wasn’t going to go on the chance to get revenge on du Plessis whereas additionally reclaiming the UFC middleweight title.
“This isn’t an excuse however that complete camp was only a battle of ‘I’m good, I’m good’ understanding you’re not good,” Strickland mentioned. “I used to be in Colombia eight weeks out, seven weeks out getting stem cells on a damaged bone. Once more, bone healed advantageous, not an excuse, it simply type of weighs behind your head.
“I might prepare with that [Reinier de Ridder] man, that submission man and he hit me with a whizzer and it was already damaged and I believed my arm f*cking snapped. I believed my arm snapped, I’ve obtained to go to Colombia. Like that is f*cked.”
Regardless of all the issues he confronted throughout his coaching camp, Strickland simply stored pushing by with hopes that he may flip it round within the combat.
Sadly that didn’t occur.
“However all camp that is simply behind your head and also you simply maintain telling your self ‘I’m f*cking good’ and I believe that is what all males do,” Strickland mentioned. “All males do that. You look within the mirror and although you’re not good, you’re like ‘I’m f*cking good, you’re a f*cking man, you sack up.’
“However all camp whether or not or not it’s the staph an infection, the damaged arm, having to get a visa that didn’t get permitted till per week [before the fight], not with the ability to get cornermen on the market. This whole camp was a battle of I’m not good however me wanting in a mirror and saying ‘sack up.’”
For all of the complaints that he placed on a lackluster efficiency, Strickland is aware of he didn’t go into that combat wherever close to 100% however he received’t return and use that as an excuse now.
Even late within the combat after du Plessis shattered his nostril, which prompted blood to go streaming down his face, Strickland wouldn’t quit till the ultimate horn sounded.
“Nothing with Dricus, he got here there and fought his ass off,” Strickland mentioned. “F*cking broke my nostril. Hell yeah. Hats off you fought like a f*cking man.
“I broke my nostril like f*cking 3 times in that spherical and each single time, I didn’t give up. I didn’t go sit on the stool and say my nostril is damaged and I can’t combat. I adjusted it each f*cking time. I believed possibly I’ll get fortunate, possibly I received’t however on the finish of the day, all of us have a f*cking story and nobody provides a f*ck. I’m grateful for my life. I like my job. I like my followers. I assist you guys simply as a lot as you assist me. Again within the fitness center, sack up and onto the subsequent.”
As a lot because the combat was constructed across the UFC middleweight title, Strickland says none of that has ever mattered a lot to him. He will get way more out of the game than simply championship belts and Strickland is aware of none of that adjustments whatever the final result in his combat in opposition to du Plessis.
“I don’t combat to place belts on the wall,” Strickland mentioned. “I don’t f*cking combat as a result of Eric desires to go do a f*cking fancy podcast. That’s not why I combat. Earlier than preventing, I had the bottom shallowness, couldn’t even have a look at myself within the f*cking mirror. Like I didn’t even know what dignity was after I first began preventing. Type of by preventing, I’ve discovered a lot. I’m met so many wonderful folks. By way of the UFC and combat followers, you guys have modified my f*cking life. Modified my f*cking life.
“You made me develop a lot as an individual within the ring and out of the ring and that’s why I combat. I f*cking like it. I’ve obtained loads of fights left on my contract. I like preventing. I’m going again to the fitness center. I’m working my ass off and I’m ranging from f*cking sq. one. That’s simply type of how life is.”
