Sean Strickland doesn’t care who he fights next, just as long its an exciting fight that draws fan interest.
The new UFC champion discussed a potential next opponent in an episode of his podcast, The Man Dance, alongside his teammate and fellow UFC middleweight, Chris Curtis.
Having won the title just over two weeks ago, Strickland, 32, said he expected former champion Israel Adesanya to be a tougher fight.
“I thought Izzy would be better. I’m sure the UFC might give him a rematch and he might take it a little bit more serious and put up a better fight,” Strickland said. On Sept. 24, the New Zealand Herald reported the former champion plead guilty to a drunk driving charge issued in the weeks leading up to UFC 293.
"Manel's just better at fighting than you are": Sean Strickland and Chris Curtis sing Manel Kape's praises after the UFC flyweight contender picked up his 4th straight win. pic.twitter.com/WZUpL97gmY
— MMA News Today (@MMANewsToday_) September 26, 2023
Heading into the fight, which he took as a late replacement, “Tarzan” was a significant underdog. Nevertheless, Strickland clearly outclassed Adesanya over five rounds en route to a unanimous decision victory.
While rumours of a rematch with Adesanya persist, UFC boss Dana White tempered expectations on a second fight between the pair.
Strickland, meanwhile, says his focus is on the bottom line.
“I want to make f****** money. I get those pay-per-view buys. Give me somebody who’s going to make f****** money. I don’t want to fight anybody boring. I want to fight, you know, give me someone who’s making money,” the champion said, as reported by MMA Fighting.
“As long as I’m fucking champion you guys, enjoy your old fucking trucks, enjoy your old beat up fucking Honda civics”
Sean Strickland’s first interview as champion: https://t.co/oYRVmDBUgX pic.twitter.com/6KkUEA2jNY
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) September 25, 2023
During the podcast, the new champion also affirmed his commitment to his blue-collar lifestyle, noting he’d bought a $500 trailer and dinghy boat to use for lobster fishing.
“As [long] as there’s a camera in my face, I don’t want to participate in making people feel like you are not enough,” he said. “If you work an eight-hour job, if you do rebar, if you do electrical, I think the value of you is by how you act, by the kind of father you are.”
