{"id":359155,"date":"2026-07-01T11:20:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T05:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=359155"},"modified":"2026-07-01T11:20:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T05:50:52","slug":"sean-strickland-vows-to-fight-key-sparring-partner-johnny-eblen-for-ufc-title-after-he-reclaims-pfl-belt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/01\/sean-strickland-vows-to-fight-key-sparring-partner-johnny-eblen-for-ufc-title-after-he-reclaims-pfl-belt\/","title":{"rendered":"Sean Strickland vows to fight key sparring partner Johnny Eblen for UFC title after he reclaims PFL belt"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
Follow us on Google Discover<\/span> <\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Sean Strickland has told of how he expects to eventually must fight Johnny Eblen for his world title within the UFC.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eblen has only one loss on his record to Costello Van Steenis, and has been widely considered the best fighter outside of the UFC at middleweight. He was resulting from rematch \u2018The Spaniard\u2019 on July 18 at PFL Austin, but after an injury to his rival he’ll as a substitute face Impa Kasanganay.<\/p>\n

<\/figure>\n
\n
\n
<\/header>\n
\n
\n
\n

After producing two of the best upsets in UFC history, is it time to present Sean Strickland his flowers? \ud83d\udc51<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n
\"Sean<\/div>
Credit: Ed Mulholland\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

Strickland has often enlisted Eblen to come back to Las Vegas and help him train for world title bouts. And now he’s repaying the favor by travelling to Florida to work out along with his close friend on the famed American Top Team.<\/p>\n

Sean Strickland guarantees Johnny Eblen future UFC title fight<\/h2>\n

While Sean Strickland and Johnny Eblen are close friends and regular training partners, the pair are also two of one of the best fighters on this planet at middleweight. The PFL star just signed a brand new cope with the promotion, so it might be some time until they get the possibility to fight one another, nevertheless it seems inevitable.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Sean Strickland wants Johnny Eblen to come back to the UFC and fight him for the middleweight title \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n

\u201cThis guys gonna win the [PFL] belt, go to the UFC, he\u2019s gonna get one fight after which we\u2019re gonna fight for the belt.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know who\u2019s gonna f*cking win, but we\u2019re gonna f*cking\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/QIFo7WxlkE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Strickland has no problem with fighting sparring partners, as evidenced by his bout with Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. And in a social media video, he teased the thought of probably meeting Eblen within the octagon for the belt.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst session done with Johnny, this guy is a savage,\u201d Strickland told fans in a video recorded on his phone. Eblen responded that not only is Strickland also a \u2018savage\u2019, however the \u2018f\u2014ing champ\u2019. \u201cThis guy goes to win the belt,\u201d Strickland then predicted for his next few fights.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen he\u2019s going to come back to the UFC, he\u2019s going to win a fight after which we\u2019re going to fight for the belt. And I don\u2019t know who\u2019s going to f\u2014ing win but I do know we\u2019re going to fight.\u201d Eblen then notes that \u201cIt\u2019s going to be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
<\/use><\/svg><\/p>\n
Join Our Newsletter<\/span><\/p>\n

Receive a digest of our greatest Bloody Elbow content each week direct to your mailbox<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n