Sean "Tarzan" Strickland, an MMA fighter hailing from Anaheim, California, is a former UFC middleweight champion, having claimed the title from Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. Strickland's rise in the sport has made headlines not just for his achievements but also for his controversial persona and difficult upbringing in an abusive household. Strickland began his professional career in 2008 with King of the Cage (KOTC), achieving an impressive 9-0 record. This streak led him to face Josh Bryant for the King of the Cage Middleweight Championship at KOTC: Unification on December 9, 2012. Strickland won the bout by split decision and went on to successfully defend the belt three times before moving to the UFC.
His UFC debut took place on March 15, 2014, at UFC 171, where he defeated Bubba McDaniel via a first-round rear-naked choke. Over the years, Strickland built a UFC record of 15 wins and 5 losses, eventually earning a title shot at UFC 293 against Israel Adesanya. Despite being the underdog, Strickland caused a major upset and claimed a unanimous decision victory to become the middleweight champion. However, Strickland's reign as champion was short-lived. He lost the belt in his first title defense to South African fighter Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297 on January 20, 2024. Looking to bounce back, the American fighter is set to face du Plessis in a rematch for the middleweight gold on February 8, 2025, at UFC 312.
Sean Strickland's coach
Sean Strickland is coached by Erik Nicksick of Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts. Nicksick is from a family of sports coaches in Henderson, Nevada, and excelled as an all-state wide receiver at Green Valley High School. He played football for the Nevada Wolf Pack before transferring to Dixie State College, where he played two years for the Trailblazers, leaving due to multiple concussions.
Nicksick's coaching success includes helping Miesha Tate win the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship in 2016 and guiding Aljamain Sterling to the UFC Bantamweight Championship in 2021. His most notable achievement was training Francis Ngannou to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship in 2021 and defending it in 2022. He also helped Sean Strickland to victory against Israel Adesanya, securing the UFC Middleweight Championship in 2023.
Also Read: Sean Strickland's UFC Record
*Last updated on February 2, 2025.
FAQs On Who is Stricklands' coach?
A. Sean Strickland’s coach is Erik Nicksick.
A. Sean Strickland currently has a MMA record of 29-6-0, as of February 2025.
A. Sean Strickland is from Anaheim, California, United States.
A. Sean Strickland is ranked No.1 in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
A. Erik Nicksick has also been the head coach for Francis Ngannou, Miesha Tate, and Aljamain Sterling.
