Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has described his recent 6-month suspension from fighting as ‘dope’ ahead of his return this Saturday.
This coming Saturday, the premier promotion returns to Houston, Texas for one more Fight Night event, headlined by middleweight contenders Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez.
The UFC Houston major event comes with huge title implications with each fighters sat contained in the top 5 of the 185lb division, each chasing the champion, Khamzat Chimaev.
It can also mark Strickland’s first fight back since being issued a 6-month suspension for storming the cage and attacking his teammate’s opponent after their fight on Tuff-N-Uff 145.
Sean Strickland was grateful for 6-month suspension because it allowed him to heal injuries
Following the incident where the previous UFC middleweight champion stormed the cage and threw several punches at Luis Hernandez, he was suspended for 6-months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
And even though it appeared to have put a dent in Strickland’s UFC profession and his pursuit of reclaiming the title, the 34-year-old has actually admitted that he was grateful to be banned for six months.
“I mean, the suspension was dope, man,” Strickland told Full Send MMA ahead of his major event this Saturday.
“I had a bunch of injuries that got healed up, you already know. I don’t get to hit cops and I don’t must go to jail too, which is good.”
Hernandez, the fighter who Strickland unleashed upon, is a police officer outside of his profession in MMA.
“I didn’t know he was a cop at first nevertheless it made it significantly higher that six months, I’m like, I’m down for this. Let me inform you, it had nothing to do with my boy losing, dude, all of us lose f—— fights, nothing to do with that.
“It was the disrespect he gave to me, if he would’ve just took his W and shut the f— up we wouldn’t have fought, but he needed to be a d—head… I’m pro ICE, I’m pro cop and also you’ve got to go and put that s— on me, f— you,” he continued.
Strickland’s feud with Khamzat Chimaev continues
Prior to his return to the Octagon, Strickland made a daring claim that he’s the one middleweight fighter to find a way to beat Khamzat Chimaev, stating that ‘Borz’ being the champion is bad for the division.
The 34-year-old’s comments didn’t sit well with the Chechen who issued a response claiming that Strickland is just bitter from getting beaten up by him in sparring.
And with the feud between the 2 continuing, a powerful win for the previous champion this Saturday could put him firmly back into the title picture.