Sean Strickland emerged victorious after a grueling fight against Paulo Costa at UFC 302, but the controversial MMA figure wasted no time in targeting his next opponent.
Strickland advocated for a prompt rematch against Dricus Du Plessis following a disputed split-decision defeat at UFC 297 in the middleweight title bout.
Despite UFC CEO Dana White’s intentions, he ultimately selected the 14-3 Costa to face Strickland in their upcoming match at UFC 302 on June 1.
Instead of sulking over White’s decision, the 33-year-old accepted the match and made a promise to knock Costa out early in the fight.
Despite his failed prediction for a stoppage, Strickland still managed to win the fight with a split-decision victory after five rounds.
Strickland’s persistent pressure led to a relatively straightforward win, although one judge controversially declared Costa as the winner of the match.
Dana White reacts to the controversial scorecard in the fight between Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa:”That guy should never ref a big fight again. They should kick him back down to the minor leagues and let him work on his judging.” #UFC302 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/XauGuFlyNk
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 2, 2024
Despite this, Strickland emerged victorious and immediately joined former US President Donald Trump in celebration, with Trump present at the Prudential Center.
After Strickland returned to the octagon, Joe Rogan conducted a post-fight interview where the American wasted no time in calling out Du Plessis for a rematch.
Who will Sean Strickland fight next?
Strickland has expressed his desire for a chance to compete for the UFC Middleweight Championship, regardless of whether that opportunity presents itself against Dricus Du Plessis or Israel Adesanya.
“During his conversation with Rogan, Strickland expressed his desire to compete for the championship belt. He mentioned his previous fight against the seventh-ranked opponent, showcasing his dedication to being a team player and taking on any challenge presented to him.”
“Give it to me now. I did it for you all. Grant me that opportunity for the title shot.”
SEAN STRICKLAND WANTS HIS TITLE SHOT! 🏆🏆 #UFC302 | LIVE on TNT Sports & discovery+ pic.twitter.com/e2cD94tgPd
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) June 2, 2024
Following his victory over Strickland in January, Du Plessis shifted his focus to Adesanya and a potential matchup between the two fighters in the later months of 2024.
If the UFC 305 card, set for Aug. 18 in Perth, Australia, includes a match between Du Plessis and Adesanya, it could potentially open the opportunity for Strickland to face the victor before the start of the upcoming year.
As many will recall, Strickland caused a major upset when he defeated Adesanya at UFC 293 and claimed the middleweight championship.
The top middleweight contender secured a unanimous decision win against the opponent from New Zealand, resulting in Strickland’s first UFC championship title.
That triumph was short-lived, as Strickland’s reign as champion came to an end after just four months when he faced Du Plessis and was defeated due to a controversial decision made by the judges.
Therefore, the UFC has the ability to market Strickland vs Du Plessis with the same ease as they would a fight featuring the former champion and Adesanya.
Strickland’s decisive win over Costa ought to persuade White to grant him the initial opportunity to face the victor between Du Plessis and Adesanya.
If necessary, Strickland is willing to wait for as long as needed until the UFC matchmakers award him the title shot he has rightfully earned.
Sean Strickland says he’s willing to sit out “as long as it takes” for a title shot:”I want the gold dude… I paid my pennants… give me the f***ing title shot.I beat Izzy and that motherf***er gets a title shot.” #UFC302 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/Ht7b1YUu1Y
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 2, 2024
Based on his words, it appears that Strickland is indifferent to who his opponent may be, as long as the UFC Middleweight Championship is up for grabs.
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