Sean Strickland spoke with UFC president Dana White and Hunter Campbell following his victory at UFC Houston last Saturday, a week marked by controversy surrounding his comments. Strickland scored a third-round TKO over Anthony Hernandez, securing his first finish inside the UFC Octagon since beating Abus Magomedov in 2023. Despite the heated moments during fight week, Strickland thanked White and Campbell for keeping him on the roster.
The 35-year-old fighter’s week began with backlash after his outspoken remarks, including controversial statements about female MMA fighters, which sparked pressure on Paramount to respond—though they ultimately did not. After his win, Strickland candidly acknowledged his gratitude backstage, telling White,
“Ah, Mr White, thanks for not firing me, that’s really nice,”
underscoring the tension that had surrounded him during fight week.
Dana White responded by congratulating Strickland on receiving a $125,000 bonus for his performance. Strickland added that every press conference feels like a challenge, noting,
“Let’s go, bro. Every time I do a press conference, I’m like, ‘Here we go’, I see Hunter’s name (on my phone),”
referring to Hunter Campbell’s constant warnings. White acknowledged this, saying,
“I told them, get ready, batten down the hatches up there,”
hinting at the turbulent media moments to come.
Strickland highlighted the polarizing nature of his persona, explaining,
“Hunter never calls me to say ‘Hey Sean, how’s your day?’ He’s always saying, ‘Sean, you need to shut the f— up.’ The moment I shut the f— up, do you think those stands will be just as full? No. People go because they either love me or want me to die, but either way, they’re buying tickets,”
revealing how his controversies drive fan engagement.
Developments in UFC 327 Title Fight Could Open Doors for Strickland
In a recent announcement on Instagram Live, Dana White revealed that UFC 327’s main event will be a vacant light heavyweight title fight between Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg. This follows Alex Pereira’s decision to vacate the belt, reshaping the landscape at 205 pounds.
This title announcement holds potential advantages for Sean Strickland. The current UFC middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev, who had been linked to moving up to light heavyweight, is now almost certain to defend his middleweight title again. This development might allow Strickland, who has built a rivalry with Chimaev, to climb the contender ranks and possibly secure the next title shot at 185 pounds.
The stasis in the light heavyweight division combined with Chimaev’s reaffirmed commitment to middleweight could accelerate Strickland’s chance to challenge for gold, making his recent win more significant in the evolving UFC hierarchy.
