UFC News: Dana White Gets a Headache for Khamzat Chimaev and Israel Adesanya as Sean Strickland Forcefully Demands Title Shot

At UFC 302, Sean Strickland made his return to the win column by out-working Paulo Costa in their 5-round middleweight clash. The former middleweight champion won the fight via split decision, which was considered to be a result of controversial judging by many prominent voices in the sport, including UFC CEO Dana White. Prior to this fight, Strickland had faced Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297, where he lost the middleweight title to the South African via another split decision.

And now, holding the number 1 spot in the 185 lbs division rankings, ‘Tarzan’ has put the UFC and the boss on notice with a demand for redemption against the middleweight champion. In a statement made on social media, Strickland indicated that he is not interested in taking on another fight unless it’s for the title!

Sean Strickland puts Dana White in a tough spot as he is ready to “wait” for his title shot

Sean Strickland has been vocal about wanting to run back the fight against Dricus Du Plessis. The two men faced off at UFC 297 with Strickland’s middleweight championship on the line, and while the fight was a closely contested affair, Du Plessis managed to de-throne ‘Tarzan’ as he secured a split decision victory which drew a lot of scrutiny from the MMA world.

At the UFC 297 post-fight press conference, Dana White had claimed that he fought and scored 2-2 before the final round which he thought Strickland won. As such in a post made on X after the fight, Strickland stated, “I lost a close decision that dana himself thought I won. Everyone did.. The stats did. That needs to be run back…”

And with a victory over Paulo Costa at UFC 302, Strickland has remained adamant about wanting another shot at the belt as he recently posted on X, “Time to sit and wait for a title shot……….”. The post aligns with his statements at the post-fight press conference where he affirmed that “I fought Costa (when) I didn’t want to, (but) I did it – give me the f**** title shot.”

But the potential for Strickland’s desired rematch seems uncertain as the UFC has already got plans for the middleweight division with the upcoming Robert Whittaker vs Khamzat Chimaev fight in Saudi Arabia being dubbed a no.1 contender bout. And Dricus Du Plessis has been linked to a potential title defense against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Australia, however, the promotion has yet to release an official statement regarding the same.  

Whether he gets his desired rematch or faces another top contender, it remains to be seen, but ‘Tarzan’ may have found an unlikely addition to his team in his opponent at UFC 302!

Strickland wants UFC 302 opponent to join his team

In the aftermath of his victory at UFC 302, Sean Strickland has made a stunning offer to Paulo Costa. ‘Tarzan’ is known for his brash personality and outspoken nature in the MMA world, but he has always maintained a respectful attitude towards the opponents who are willing to go to war with him inside the Octagon.

Speaking on the Full Send MMA YouTube channel, Strickland stated, “Funny enough, before the fight he was [training] in Vegas so I’m sure he’ll be a teammate soon… No doubt [I’d invite him to train at Xtreme Couture], it would be a great asset to our team.”

The former UFC middleweight champion also indicated that he was conflicted when fighting against Costa as he explained, “…it was kind of hard to bring the animosity to fight him just because I f***** like him so much”.

This camaraderie, coupled with Strickland’s determination to reclaim the middleweight title, adds an intriguing layer to his persona and future in the UFC. And as the UFC and Dana White navigate their middleweight division plans, Strickland’s voice remains loud and clear, demanding the recognition and opportunity he believes he has earned.

Do you think Sean Strickland deserves a shot at the middleweight title before Khamzat Chimaev and Israel Adesanya? Why or Why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below!