Sean Strickland always feels like he is never more than a hop, skip and a jump away from controversy.
And his latest on has been arguably his most punitive; a cage rush alongside fellow UFC fighter, Chris Curtis back in late June, landed Strickland a six month suspension from the octagon, in addition to a $5000 fine.
The suspension time can be reduced to four-and-a-half months on the condition that the former UFC Middleweight Champion completes and anger management course.
And it seems as if Strickland will be opting to take and complete that course, as he issued a request to the UFC on Wednesday to put him on the final pay-per-view card of the organization’s current deal with ESPN, which will happen December in Vegas at UFC 323.
Sean Strickland Keen To Return To The Cage In December
Strickland was given his lofty suspension earlier in the month after he came after fighter Luis Hernandez after he taunted Strickland and Curtis after beating Miles Hunsinger, who was getting cornered by the UFC pair at a “Tuff-N-Uff” MMA event.
And by choosing the four-and-a-half months option, Strickland has an option to fight again this year, after failing to dethrone fellow former middleweight champ, Dricus Du Plessis; who lost to Khamzat Chimaev back at UFC 319; back in February at UFC 312.
The final pay-per-view will certainly be a much-desired event to be featured on, but for a man like Strickland whose notoriety extends far beyond his short stint as the 185 lb title holder, it will certainly be more than possible.
Who Could Sean Strickland Face Next?
If Strickland is not to fight until the winter, then his next opponent could be contingent on what happens in the forthcoming fights between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, plus Reinier de Ridder and Anthony Hernandez.
The winners of both bouts will likely go on to face Chimaev for the title, with the more emphatic win presumed to be the first challenger to the Chechen.
Strickland could face one of the losers, if they are able to turn around in a couple of months, otherwise he could rematch another ex-belt holder, Israel Adesanya, the former five-time middleweight champion coming off four losses in his last five fights.
Adesanya told Uncrowned’s Ariel Helwani that he would like to return before the end of the year, with Sean Strickland his ideal opponent.
But Adesanya may look to another fight, or may not want to wait around until December, in which case the most interesting – and only realistic fight left would be with British ex-Bellator fighter, Michael Venom Page – coming off an impressive second fight at middleweight over veteran, Jared Cannonier.
And whilst it might not be as sexy as it once was, the fight with Robert Whittaker is still very much on the table – even after Whittaker lost a close split decision to De Ridder, who himself could be in a title fight by early next year.
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