“I Fought Kamaru Usman and I Was…”- Citing Reasons for Not Wearing a “Gi”, Sean Strickland Recalls “F***Ing Misery” After Fighting Former UFC Champ 6 Years Ago

The ‘Tarzan’ is back at it! Sean Strickland, the Middleweight superstar, has turned many heads – all thanks to his witty yet sarcastic and sometimes over-the-top remarks. He recently made headlines when he aimed a dig at Khamzat Chimaev, ahead of a now-canceled fight between the Swedish fighter and Kamaru Usman.

But long before Chimaev vs Usman was a thing, ‘Tarzan’ and the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ had squared off in an epic but one-sided bout. Back in 2017, the pair stepped up for a showdown at UFC 210. Reflecting on his performance that night, Tarzan has made some new revelations – and a lot of fans may want to hear this.

Sean Strickland feels ‘miserable’ wearing a ‘Gi’; says he will never wear one again

In a recent exclusive interview with ‘The Schmo,’ the #7 ranked UFC Middleweight fighter delved into some memories from his loss to Usman. During the conversation, Strickland opened up about his experience wearing a ‘Gi’ and his subsequent decision to abandon it.

For those of you who are wondering what a ‘Gi’ is – it’s that white jacket-like uniform that is donned by many Jiu-Jitsu and Karate masters.

Midway into the interview, Schmo asked Strickland, “…you put on a Gi…what was that experience like?”

To everyone’s surprise, Strickland unveiled a covert aspect of his martial arts journey. He disclosed, “You guys don’t know this, but I’m actually a black belt.” However, his encounter with Kamaru Usman, a formidable opponent, left him in a state of “f**king misery.”

Moreover, recalling his bout with Usman, the ‘Tarzan’ added, “I fought Kamaru Usman and I was going for fucking arm bars and triangles and he was bouncing my head off the mat” – shedding light on the intense struggle he faced. Attempting arm bars and triangles, he found himself at the mercy of his opponent, who relentlessly slammed his head against the unforgiving mat.

READ MORE: “With Alex, Man, You Gotta Have…” – Sean Strickland Reveals What He Realized About Himself After Training With Former Champ Alex Pereira

What’s more – this harrowing experience acted as a turning point in Strickland’s training approach. He made a bold decision, vowing, “Once I experienced that level of f**king misery, I said, ‘F**k the Gi. I’m never wearing that thing again.'”

The Middleweight’s disclosure sheds light on the physical and mental toll experienced while training at the highest level. His decision to forgo the ‘Gi’ showcases the importance of adaptability and finding what works best for individual fighters. All-in-all, the interview opened up to fans a closer and more unique perspective on the fine-tuning of his training style.

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