Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby sought to challenge himself during the offseason by sparring with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, engaging in three rounds of intense fighting to test his limits and try new things.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, a familiar face at UFC events, decided to challenge himself in new ways before the NFL season began. He sought a sparring session with current UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland to push his limits. Crosby shared his experience on The Pat McAfee Show, expressing his desire to try new things and step out of his comfort zone during the offseason.
Being a huge fan of the sport, Crosby is often seen in the crowd at UFC events, and he has built a longstanding friendship with Strickland. The opportunity for the sparring session arose when NFL Films approached Crosby to capture his training process, including sparring. Knowing Strickland’s reputation as an intense sparring partner who goes all out to knock people out, Crosby invited him to join the session. The two fighters went head to head for three intense rounds, without any protective gear or mouthpieces.
Although Crosby, weighing more than 250 pounds, showcased his strength, he acknowledged that Strickland ultimately had the upper hand. Strickland, the UFC middleweight champion, earned the title with a dominant unanimous decision victory against Israel Adesanya in September. However, Crosby was proud of landing some clean shots, even leaving a cut on Strickland’s lip. In retrospect, Crosby admired Strickland’s intensity and referred to him as a “maniac.”
In his quest for self-improvement, Crosby chose to step into the octagon, testing himself against an accomplished UFC champion like Strickland. The experience provided Crosby with new perspectives and challenges as he sought to grow both as an athlete and as an individual during the offseason.