Sean Strickland, widely recognized for his fiery tongue continues to make waves both inside and outside the Octagon. Slated to be next in line for a shot at the middleweight title, the former division kingpin has already set his sights on the potential match-up, pinpointing a time and location for his 2025 return.

However, the identity of Strickland’s next opponent remains uncertain, with the addition of Khamzat Chimaev in the title picture owing to his dominant outing last month. Amid this uncertainty, Xtreme Couture head coach Erick Nicksick weighed in on Strickland’s potential next fight, offering his take on what lies ahead for him.

Team Strickland aims to fight in ‘The Land Down Under’

During a conversation with Ballin & Brawlin, coach Erick Nicksick shared intriguing details about Sean Strickland’s plans for his next fight. According to Nicksick, the team is eyeing Australia as the location, with a potential date in March 2025. He revealed, “We were told possibly March—that’s what we were told in our last little update. Sean loves Australia, loves the people there, and absolutely loves Sydney.”

However, Nicksick also touched on an incident that occurred during UFC 293 in Australia, which caused some controversy. Strickland reportedly punched a fan in the stomach when approached for a photo. ‘Tarzan’ later downplayed the situation, explaining that it was all in good humor and that both he and the fan shared a laugh afterward. Despite this clarification, the incident didn’t sit well with some Australian authorities.

Nicksick further shed more light on Sean Strickland’s polarizing relationship with Australian authorities, saying, “Obviously, the government wasn’t too happy with Sean. And Sean gave them some reasons not to be too happy, right?”

On a personal level though, Strickland announced that he has no plans to fight in Australia against Dricus Du Plessis. Taking to X, he wrote, “I’m not fighting in Australia. We’re thinking of Vegas in March. I have a love for the Aussies BUT I don’t think your government likes me… which I take as a compliment!! Hate speech isn’t real, and I’ll always speak up for my kangaroo homies!!!! FRRRRREEEEEDDDOOOOOMM!”

Meanwhile, du Plessis’ coach, Morne Visser, added fuel to the fire by revealing that ‘Stillknocks’ is preparing to fight in February in Australia. Visser even hinted at the potential opponent being none other than Robert Whittaker, a former champion and fan favorite in Australia.

Sean Strickland not happy with Morne Visser’s claims

Sean Strickland has cast serious doubt on the claims made by Dricus du Plessis’ coach, Morne Visser, regarding a potential fight in Australia. Strickland took to X to criticize UFC President Dana White for allegedly scheduling a bout not involving him. Meanwhile, Strickland’s coach, Erick Nicksick, stepped in to refute Visser’s remarks during an appearance on the From The Stands podcast. Nicksick called the assertions false, stating:

“Yeah, we heard we are next. That’s from Dana. I know Hunter said that Sean had met with him, and, you know, he said we’re next. We’re just waiting on a timeline for when Dricus will be available. The nice thing is that his coach… none of these guys gets a call for that shot.” This back-and-forth has added more confusion regarding the rumored Australia PPV event, leaving fans uncertain about the next middleweight title bout.

The drama has only intensified with these new developments. Will Strickland end up fighting in Australia, or will his insistence on Vegas prevail? And if a rematch with Du Plessis is inevitable, will Strickland regain his title, or is DDP poised to cement his reign? Share your thoughts in the comments below!