Remembering a memorable fight: Sean Strickland secured a dramatic come-from-behind knockout victory. The former UFC middleweight champion, Sean Strickland, is often recognized for his strategic approach and winning on points, as seen in his recent triumphs against Paulo Costa and Israel Adesanya. However, his last knockout win truly highlighted his incredible toughness and unyielding nature within the Octagon.
In July 2023, Strickland faced Abus Magomedov in a middleweight main event at a UFC Fight Night held at the Apex. This marked Strickland`s return to the 185-pound division after a victory over Nassourdine Imavov at light heavyweight a few months prior. Leading up to the fight, UFC CEO Dana White described Magomedov as a potential threat, claiming many middleweights had avoided fighting him before Strickland accepted the challenge.
Sean Strickland`s Last KO Came After a Wild First Round Against Abus Magomedov
Although scheduled for a five-round main event, Abus Magomedov attacked Strickland with intense aggression from the outset, fighting as if it were a single-round contest. Within the first minute, Magomedov significantly hurt Strickland with a barrage of punches and even secured a rare takedown against Strickland, who typically defends takedowns well, controlling the pace of the initial round.
However, following the first round, Magomedov showed clear signs of exhaustion from his high-paced start. Strickland, known for his strong conditioning and consistent forward pressure, capitalized on Magomedov`s fatigue. Cornering Magomedov against the fence, Strickland landed a decisive right hand that sent his opponent to the canvas, securing the victory with forceful ground strikes.
Only a few months after this fight, Strickland went on to achieve one of the biggest upsets in UFC history at UFC 293, defeating Israel Adesanya by unanimous decision to become the UFC middleweight champion. He even knocked down the then-champion in the opening round of that fight.
Regarding Magomedov, he initially struggled to meet the high expectations set for him in the UFC, but the former PFL competitor has since found his footing, earning three consecutive victories. His most recent win was a unanimous decision over Michel Pereira at UFC Kansas City.
Sean Strickland is in Hot Water After Incident at Tuff-N-Uff Event
Moving forward to 2025, Sean Strickland faces an unusual situation in his UFC career. Following two losses for the middleweight title against Dricus du Plessis, he is currently not in immediate title contention and is facing a possible suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The situation arose on Sunday when Strickland and his teammate Chris Curtis confronted Luis Hernandez, the winner of a Tuff-N-Uff 145 bout, after cornering Miles Hunsinger. Following an exchange of words in the stands, Strickland reportedly charged at Hernandez and struck him before being removed from the arena by security.
Since the incident, Strickland has publicly stated he has no regrets about his actions at Tuff-N-Uff 145 and defended his decision to enter the cage area. The NSAC, having sanctioned the event, is now considering potential penalties for Strickland.
