For all the chaos Sean Strickland tends to create outside the cage, one thing that keeps coming up is how much respect he has for the people around him.
Fresh off reclaiming the UFC middleweight title with a huge upset win over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328, Strickland could have spent the week soaking in the spotlight.
Instead, he went straight back to the gym.
On Tuesday, Strickland returned to Xtreme Couture to show off the newly won belt and thank the teammates and coaches who helped get him there.
And for a guy known mostly for blunt trash talk and controversy, the message was surprisingly genuine.
“After every L I’ve got, the fact that I went back and came to the gym is why I have another one of these f*ckers,” Strickland told his team.
“That being said, as always, I want to thank you guys. I’m pretty fucked up; I’m going to take a few weeks off. But I wouldn’t be here without you guys, seriously. F*cking, all the coaches, would not be here without you. So, it’s not just my belt, it’s our belt. Thank you.”
That version of Strickland doesn’t always make the headlines.
The guy who says wild things at press conferences and starts internet firestorms gets most of the attention, but moments like this are a reminder that inside the gym, fighters often tell a very different story about who he is.
As for what comes next, the title picture is already getting interesting.
Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly pushing hard for an immediate rematch after losing his undefeated record in a razor-close split decision.
Strickland, meanwhile, seems more interested in letting the rankings sort things out.
He’s already suggested that if the UFC wants to go by merit, Nassourdine Imavov could be the logical next challenger.
Whether the UFC goes with the rematch, a fresh contender, or another wildcard option remains to be seen.
But for now, Strickland’s doing what champions usually do after a war.
Healing up.
And apparently making sure the people who helped him get there know they’re part of it too.
