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Kamaru Usman laments failed UFC middleweight title fight with Sean Strickland: ‘1,000% I was moving up’

Kamaru Usman laments failed UFC middleweight title rematch with Sean Strickland 1,000% I was moving up Former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman has claimed he never had the intentions nor interest in fighting fellow African-born…

Former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman has claimed he never had the intentions nor interest in fighting fellow African-born star, Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title during their respective title reigns, however, stressed he laments not challenging Sean Strickland following his September coronation.

Usman, the current number one ranked welterweight contender and former pound-for-pound leader under the promotion’s banner, has been sidelined since making a 185lbs debut back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Suffering his third consecutive loss, however, Auchi native, Usman dropped a close, majority decision loss to unbeaten challenger, Khamzat Chimaev in the pair’s short-notice title-eliminator in the Middle East.

And weighing up the option of a potential stay at the middleweight limit, Usman received a recent call out from former undisputed title chaser, Paulo Costa, who claimed he may have the ability to finish the Nigerian.

Kamaru Usman talks failed middleweight title run

Reflecting on his dominant run as welterweight titleholder, Usman claimed he never had interest in challenging compatriot, Adesanya, however, would have jumped at the chance to fight former titleholder, Strickland for gold.

“It stings that I didn’t become double-champion,” Kamaru Usman told Henry Cejudo during an appearance on Pound 4 Pound. “But, it doesn’t sting that I didn’t go up and fight Israel (Adesanya). I just genuinely – and I stand by that – I just genuinely had no desire to be the reason why – or the potential reason why Israel – another Nigerian, was not a UFC champion.”

“I had no interest in that,” Kamaru Usman explained. “I’m not just saying I was gonna beat him up or whatever, but I just had no interest being the reason why the UFC didn’t have another Nigerian champion. But, had it been Sean Strickland – 1,000% I was moving up.”

Usman and Strickland first fought back in 2017, with the former landing a one-sided unanimous decision win in their UFC 210 showdown.

Who do you want to see ex-champion, Kamaru Usman fight next?

Israel Adesanya eyes rematch with UFC rival Sean Strickland, mocks title loss again: ‘What a reign’

Israel Adesanya claims a title rematch with one-time foe, Sean Strickland will come round his direction again – and…

Israel Adesanya claims a title rematch with one-time foe, Sean Strickland will come round his direction again – and remains confident of avenging the defeat, however, still took time to once more mock the championship run of the former, which ended last month at UFC 297.

Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion, has been sidelined since he fought Strickland atop UFC 293 back in September of last year, dropping a stunning upset decision shutout loss defeat to the Xtreme Couture staple in Sydney, Australia.

Promising a lengthy hiatus from the Octagon in the midst of his second middleweight championship loss in the space of a calendar year, Adesanya has made a significant u-turn – claiming he will fight sooner than expected.

And linked with a potential main event slot atop UFC 300 in April, Adesanya claimed he accepted a bout agreement to fight Pretoria rival, Dricus du Plessis in a title grudge match on the card, however, boldly claimed the South African reneged on the clash.

Israel Adesanya eyes title rematch with Sean Strickland

Still hoping to secure a fight with the newly-minted champion later this year, Adesanya revealed that he still wants to fight Strickland in a rematch before calling time on his career – claiming he just wasn’t supposed to win in their UFC 293 showcase.

“I look to the next fight, never – I look ahead, like a little peek at the future,” Israel Adesanya told Theo Von during an appearance on This Past Weekend. “But I don’t try to focus on it. And I just know the (Sean) Strickland fight will come back around, and I’m in a good place right now health wise, mentally, and I know exactly what happend in that fight, that just wasn’t for me.”

“He’s (Strickland) a great fighter,” Israel Adesanya continued. “He’s also a good champion – what a reign. I mean, he did what he did. Even the way he beat me was spectacular, it was his moment.”

Would you like to see Israel Adesanya rematch Sean Strickland this year?

Robert Whittaker targets August return against Sean Strickland after UFC 298 win: ‘He’s in the sights’

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker has confirmed plans to make a return to the Octagon as soon as…

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker has confirmed plans to make a return to the Octagon as soon as August, targeting a fight against fellow former titleholder, Sean Strickland – after his unanimous decision win over Paulo Costa earlier this month at UFC 298.

Whittaker, who holds the number three rank in the middleweight pile, returned to the winner’s enclosure at UFC 298 earlier this month in Anaheim, turning in a decision win over former title chaser, Costa in the pair’s co-main event outing.

The walk came as Whittaker’s first since he featured on the main card of UFC 290 back in July during International Fight Week, where he suffered a stunning second round TKO loss to Dricus du Plessis – after the newly-crowned champion earned a stoppage win at the Octagon fence.

Robert Whittaker weighs up Sean Strickland fight

And welcoming the possibility of a rematch with Pretoria native in order to avenge his loss and strike gold, Whittaker claimed a potential title-eliminator against former titleholder, Strickland is also on his radar.

“I’m angling towards the gold,” Robert Whittaker said during an appearance on the MMArcade Podcast. “I wanna reclaim my belt, you know. And I would love to run it back with Dricus (du Plessis) – especially ‘cause he’s got the gold as well, so it’s two-in-one, right?”

“But I do understand that (Sean) Strickland is in – is in line, like in the sights a little bit,” Robert Whittaker explained. “Everyone’s talking about him a lot, he’s at the top. And that kinda gives me the path to the gol that I’m longing for. So, I’m not really fussed on the opponent at the moment.

Sidelined since January, Strickland most recently dropped a split decision loss to common-foe, du Plessis, in which he lost his middleweight title in the main event of UFC 297 in Canada.

Who do you thinks wins in a future fight: Robert Whittaker or Sean Strickland?

Ex-UFC champion Sean Strickland snaps back at U.S. Navy SEAL: ‘Ya’ll need a history lesson

Sean Strickland continues to make enemies with his outspoken, and often outlandish commentaries. Earlier this month, he pummeled a…

Sean Strickland continues to make enemies with his outspoken, and often outlandish commentaries.

Earlier this month, he pummeled a popular online influencer, sent quasi-death threats to Jake Paul, and nearly got into it with Grammy-nominated music star Machine Gun Kelly. Now, the former middleweight world champion is picking a fight with the military. Specifically, U.S. Navy SEALs. In a video shared on social media, Strickland suggested that Navy SEALs — the U.S. Navy’s primary special operations force — couldn’t survive a week of training with him.

“I don’t think there’s one f*cking Navy Seal who could survive a week training with me,” Strickland said. “I’m kind of sick of seeing it, cause you guys think you’re badass, come train with me for a week. I’ll show you what’s up, I’ll f*cking break you.”

Catching wind of the comment, one U.S. Navy SEAL in particular decided to respond to ‘Tarzan’ in a now-viral call out, making it clear when they’re both called to action, the stakes are anything, but equal.

“Sean we get it, you’re a badass bro. But check it out, your training partners get millions of dollars and they actually live. My swim buddies, they die every single year. Do you have any idea what the means? We’ve already proven that any kind of beatdown will not break us, but our training will simply just end your career, Sean. I’m talking about skin grafts on the thighs.

“You talk about taking people’s souls from their body. Well, me and my boys, we’ve actually taken a lot of real souls from people. You know what I’m saying bro? Your training is absolutely brutal man we get it, but your training doesn’t kill dudes every single year and that’s the world that we live in. My best advice for you, Sean, is to stay in the Octagon and keep fighting for that next purse and us SEALS will keep fighting for your freedom” (h/t BJPenn.com)

Sean Strickland Fires Back

Never one to let anyone get the last word over him, Strickland responded to the SEAL’s rebuttal in a not entirely surprising way.

I made a navy seal upset, he said "we protect your freedom"

I'm very pro military but anti government

But to say "I protect your freedom"

Yall need a history lesson on the federal government. Google Snowden and the constitution. The sand people aren't taking away my freedoms

— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 26, 2024

“I made a navy seal upset, he said “we protect your freedom” I’m very pro military but anti government But to say “I protect your freedom” Yall need a history lesson on the federal government. Google Snowden and the constitution. The sand people aren’t taking away my freedoms,” Strickland wrote on X.

Sean Strickland is yet to book a return to the Octagon since surrendering the 185-pound crown to Dricus Du Plessis in their UFC 297 headliner. Recently, Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, put his stamp of approval on a potential clash between ‘Tarzan’ and another former middleweight titleholder, Robert Whittaker.

Whittaker, who also suffered a loss to DDP last summer, bounced back at UFC 298 with a decision victory over the returning Paulo Costa.

Is Sean Strickland vs. Robert Whittaker next? Coach Eric Nicksick believes that is the fight to make

Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick likes the idea of Sean Strickland stepping inside the Octagon with another former middleweight…

Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick likes the idea of Sean Strickland stepping inside the Octagon with another former middleweight champion — Robert Whittaker.

After pulling off a stunning upset against Israel Adesanya in September to claim the 185-pound crown, Strickland surrendered the title to Dricus Du Plessis in his first defense at UFC 297. A month later, Whittaker bounced back following a second-round knockout loss against DDP by outworking one-time title challenger Paulo Costa at UFC 298 in Anaheim.

Asked about a potential meeting between the former champions, Nicksick had plenty of positive things to say about ‘The Reaper’ and his impressive middleweight run over the years.

“It’s a great fight,” Nicksick told MMA Junkie Radio. “I still think Robert’s the most talented from top to bottom in the division, in my opinion. I think he has the most skill set and is the most dangerous. I’ve always been a huge fan of Robert Whittaker. I’ve stolen a lot of techniques off of him, things that he’s done.

“I’ve seen him in the locker room, warming up, doing things that I put in my database and taken for good reason. I think he’s one of the best 185ers to ever do it, and I think had it not been for Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker would have been holding that belt for a long period of time.”

Over the last year, Strickland has emerged as the promotion’s most polarizing figure. In turn, his star power has skyrocketed, making him a beloved figure among fight fans all over the world and Nicksick has no problem with ‘Tarzan’ staying active to capitalize on his growing popularity.

“He’s a prize fighter, and I think money talks,” Nicksick said. “So, he’s in a position where he can maximize on his value in the situation that he’s in, then why not? Why not go fight? He hasn’t been taking a whole lot of damage other than the Alex Pereira fight, so he’s relatively healthy. He’s still back in the room, he’s still training hard, he’s doing everything he’s supposed to do.”

Sean Strickland and Robert Whittaker currently occupy the No. 1 and No. 3 spots in the middleweight top 10.

Sean Strickland fires back at Joe Rogan over his controversial sparring session with Sneako

Sean Strickland snapped back at Joe Rogan after the longtime UFC commentator criticized his viral sparring session with a…

Sean Strickland snapped back at Joe Rogan after the longtime UFC commentator criticized his viral sparring session with a well-known streamer.

Ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, footage of Strickland putting an absolute beating on Sneako — a popular content creator on Rumble — emerged online. The clip was immediately met with a mixed reaction. Some laughed. Some dubbed Sean Strickland a bully. In the case of Joe Rogan, the popular podcaster insisted that it was not a good look for Strickland, a former middleweight world champion, to take liberties with an untrained kid half his size.

“He beat up that kid who’s smaller than him,” Rogan said during an episode of JRE. “A streamer named Sneako, which is not a good look. He beat the sh*t out of that guy. I just don’t know why he wanted to do that. It’s so easy for him to beat that guy up. It’s not fair.”

Rogan’s reaction prompted Strickland to issue a fiery video response on Instagram.

“I didnt pick a fight, he wanted it,” Strickland wrote in the caption. “They don’t get it…. Everyone liked the video. These people spend more money than you make in a year on drs and injections just trying to live forever… They’re so out of touch… It bothers them that I interact with you guys in the world… You hear these people talk about trying to live forever and you start thinking maybe lizard people are real…… I can go on forever why they don’t understand and never will…”

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Sean Strickland wasn’t the only one to put a beating on Sneako

Whether or not you feel Strickland was a little too rough on Sneako, it’s clear that the kid didn’t learn his lesson. Days later, he was spotted online getting his ass handed to him by No. 1 ranked bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili.