“I don’t fight to put belts on the wall. I don’t f—ing fight because Eric wants to go do a fancy podcast. That’s not why I fight. Before fighting I had the lowest self-esteem, couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror. I don’t know what dignity was when I first started fighting and though fighting, I’ve learned so much. I’ve met so many amazing people.” Sean Strickland seemingly lambasted Xtreme Couture head honcho Eric Nicksick in a four-minute video following his UFC 312 loss.

“I fight because the UFC and the fans changed my life. I’ve got a lot of fights left, and I’m starting from square one.” Despite the loss, the former middleweight champion only dropped one spot in the rankings to #2 and is already back in the gym working hard for his comeback. But, his lackluster performance wasn’t the only thing making waves. So, what’s really going on? Strickland’s comments are raising more questions than answers, especially when it comes to his relationship with long-time coach Nicksick.

“I think he needs to evaluate what he wants to do in this sport,” Nicksick stated on The Ariel Helwani Show. “If it’s just to make money, then that’s great, let us know. I want to coach world champions, so my motivations are different. I think that just to show up and do that and not really back it up, to me was just kind of uninspiring.” Pretty rough feedback after a tough loss right?

And can this setback be a turning point in their long-standing partnership? Or is there more beneath the surface? It didn’t take long for UFC veteran Michael Bisping to weigh in with some sharp advice during a live chat on his YouTube channel. As always, ‘The Count’ didn’t mince words. “What does Sean want? You certainly don’t want a yes man. You don’t want a yes man for a coach,” he said. The analyst further added, “You need somebody who’s gonna tell you the truth. Somebody who’s going to tell you things that sometimes you’re not going to like.”

So, was the veteran hinting that Strickland’s camp might’ve been too soft on him? Or whether Strickland’s criticism was misplaced? Maybe. But let’s dig deeper. The former 185lbs champ went on to clarify that Nicksick had done everything right in preparing Strickland for the fight. “There’s no question that Eric Nicksick wanted him to win and formulated a great training camp,” he said. “I think it was more to do with Dricus Du Plessis. Du Plessis was just good. He wouldn’t allow Sean to get going. Sean didn’t feel confident enough in his ability to let go with other things.”

Could it be that Strickland simply ran into a fighter who was better on the night? According to ‘The Count’, there’s no shame in that. “Dricus is a monster, man. And by the way, one of the nicest guys,” Bisping added, clearly giving credit where it’s due. But still, Bisping couldn’t help but hint that Strickland’s approach might need a bit of reevaluation. So what went wrong? Was it the fight itself? Or something deeper?

How did the unfiltered, raw Sean Strickland react to his UFC 312 debacle?

Naturally, Strickland wasn’t going to let Nicksick’s “uninspiring” “money-minting” words slide quietly. Initially, he tried to brush it off with a bit of humor, joking that his unfiltered interview with Nina Drama might have triggered Eric. But as expected, the verbose American didn’t hold back for long. He took to Instagram to speak his mind in the same four-minute video, and this time it was a mix of honesty and frustration.

“Will Eric be in my corner again?” Strickland asked. While you are pondering, he made it clear that Nicksick was still a friend, the two seemed to be heading in different directions. “I like Eric, he’s a friend of mine,” Strickland said. “But will he probably be in my corner again? Probably not.”

That’s a pretty bold statement, especially after everything the two have been through together. But Strickland wasn’t holding back. The truth was out, his vision for his career wasn’t quite in sync with Nicksick’s anymore. And when it comes to a fighter like Strickland, you can bet he’s not afraid to speak his mind. “It was a f–king struggle,” Strickland said about the entire fight camp.

He didn’t just admit to his frustrations. He revealed some serious behind-the-scenes challenges, like a staph infection, a broken arm, and even VISA issues as Fight Week approached. “We all have excuses for why we didn’t win, or why we won,” Strickland said. “But nothing with Dricus. He fought his ass off. Broke my nose? Hell yeah. Hats off.”

So, could this be the end of a long-standing coach-fighter relationship, or is there still a chance for reconciliation? The truth is, it’s complicated. Strickland is clearly at a crossroads, and he’s going to have to figure out what kind of coach he needs going forward. It’s one thing to lose a fight, it’s another when your coach questions your commitment.

Nicksick’s words shook the MMA community, and it was clear he wasn’t just disappointed with Strickland’s performance, but with what he saw as a lack of passion. But was the Xtreme Couture head honcho justified in his harsh critique, or did Strickland have legitimate reasons for his performance?

So, what’s next for the former middleweight kingpin? A bout with Robert Whittaker? Or a clash with an up-and-comer like the man he trained with for UFC 312- Caio Barralho? We’ll have to see! However, if there’s one thing we know about him, it’s that he’s not one to back down from a challenge. He’s been under the spotlight before, and it’s clear he thrives on it.

But is this a wake-up call? What do you think? Will Strickland reconsider his approach, or will he continue to chart his own path? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!