Eric Nicksick, Sean Strickland‘s head coach, admitted to making a mistake in his timing and wording when criticizing Strickland’s performance after a UFC fight loss, leading to tension between them, but he maintains his intentions were to inspire Strickland to improve.
Eric Nicksick knows he messed up. Earlier this month, Sean Strickland fell short in his rematch with Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, losing a clear-cut unanimous decision. Afterward, Nicksick, Strickland’s head coach and cornerman, spoke about his fighter’s “uninspired” performance and questioned Strickland’s motivations. In response, Strickland gave his thoughts on Nicksick’s comments and said he will “probably not” be in his corner moving forward.
It was a sudden and unexpected fallout for the duo, and on Tuesday, Nicksick addressed the situation on his Verse Us podcast. “I don’t even consider it a fallout,” Nicksick said. “I think it was just something I needed. I made a calculated mistake. We’ll talk about that and my thought process in what went on. But it was something I felt I really needed because it showed me a lot about people. It made me learn about what I need to do better. There was a lot, bro. Dude, I came out of this going, OK, here’s where I can be a better person, a better coach, a better friend, a better mentor, all these other things.’ But it also showed me who is in my corner.”
Nicksick’s original comments came shortly after returning home from Sydney, and the Xtreme Couture coach says that was a poor choice on his part. “I made a mistake by accepting the invitation to go on at the timing of where I was at,” Nicksick continued. “I think people need to understand, you’re coming off 25 hours of travel, 19-hour time difference, I’m at the gym on Tuesday, half awake. I should’ve just said, ‘Hey man, not a good time.’ That’s where I f*cked up. I should’ve never done it.
“The reason why, you win, it’s like you’re on this parade. I also feel like if you lose, you should face the music, too. Hey man, we lost; let’s face it." What threw him for a loop? About 30 minutes before going on with Ariel [Helwani], Sean is at practice with us, and Sean tells me all these things about how he felt in the weeks leading up to the fight, yada yada yada… his headspace.
“It was very disappointing to hear what his headspace was and what his thought process was about being a champion—all these things. That’s personal. I should’ve known better." He took that energy and had to process that while going on Ariel.
“I fcked up. I fcked up.” But though Nicksick admits he didn’t showcase the best judgment, he still stands by much of what he said—though not the manner in which he expressed it.
“I made a miscalculation in that moment in ever accepting to go on the show,” Nicksick said. “Number two: my wording was piss-poor." What he said was accurate: the fight was uninspiring. Everyone knows Sean—that is not how Sean fights.
Am I to shoulder some of that blame? One hundred percent. As a staff, it’s on us; always said that. But his output? His body language? His demeanor? It did not feel like Sean.
And if anybody thinks I should have lied to cover—that’s a Yes Man—and I won’t be that.
“So if anybody is upset that I was a little too harsh on Sean f*cking Strickland—what are we doing here?
“Now," where my wording was wrong was when Ariel said, ‘Do you want to continue to coach Sean?’ On the heels of what he told me prior… my response should’ve been ‘championship mindset.’ Not champions.
Sean has a championship mindset—works his ass off—spars hard—I can never do what Sean does. But when you tell me your motives have changed—not to be a champion per se—my only real big incentive is ‘Let’s chase greatness.’ But… worded it wrong.”
Nicksick also added that though his wording and timing were wrong—the underlying point remains: he wanted to inspire better from Strickland moving forward—something Strickland himself has attempted similarly.
“What I’ve learned over the years is you should probably give people a little grace here and there." Can’t bat a thousand; made mistakes; calculated errors on that part.
But what he tried to do—in roundabout way—was challenge fighter—to perform better next time out.
“Because here’s a guy who has publicly talked shit about Edmen [Shahbazyan], [Marvin] Vettori… other coaches; reason he does that? Trying to get best out of them…
"I know what Sean’s trying to do—defended him about what he’s said/how he’s said it—because wants what’s best for guys in room…
“So tried doing little of what Sean does; give him taste of own medicine; try getting fcking response out of him going ‘I’m going prove this motherfcker wrong.’
Guarantee this: if I’m in corner or not—you think he’s going fight harder next time?
“So did I f*ck up? Did call him out/say anything no one else saying? Probably best on him compared Din Thomas/other people—these guys were going after him."
‘Oh you’re piling on!’ No—being open/honest—to constructive criticism—we all should take on—including myself.”
Nicksick went on saying doesn’t care if Strickland has him back in corner; just wants what’s best for friend/fighter—even if all mistake—intentions good—doesn’t regret doing it.
“Since beat Izzy—I’ve seen change,” Nicksaid said. "So said what said—hoping get him back."
So if makes him shitty person/bad coach/whatever—doesn’t know—but doesn’t regret what said; regrets timing/wording of it.”