UFC 293 middleweight champion Sean Strickland almost lost his opportunity to fight due to an altercation with a fan and subsequent comment about it during an interview, but he managed to compete and win, even after inviting a fan on stage for a spar during open workouts.
Sean Strickland’s path to becoming the middleweight champion at UFC 293 had an unusual twist. According to Xtreme Couture coach Eric Nicksick, Strickland’s combative nature nearly resulted in his not fighting due to off-ring incidents. In the lead-up to the fight in Sydney, his comments and actions almost led to the UFC calling in backup Jared Cannonier. Strickland admitted to Fox Sports Australia that he punched a fan a week prior to the fight. His comments raised eyebrows, but no immediate action was taken. However, it left the team feeling uncertain as Nicksick put it.
Nicksick recalls the situation with a sense of incredulity, saying, “We were walking on eggshells all week.” The team was acutely conscious that tension was mounting, and they almost had UFC coach John Crouch fly out from Arizona to continue with Cannonier. This level of concern was prompted by Strickland’s aggressive behavior, coupled with his confession to punching a fan during an interview. The coach vividly remembers how fans worshipped Strickland, always wanting to take pictures with him, only for a single incident to nearly jeopardize his position.
In the end, Strickland emerged victorious, soundly defeating Israel Adesanya to clinch the middleweight championship at UFC 293. The lead-up to the fight wasn’t only stressful because of the altercation with the fan. At the UFC 293 open workouts, Strickland spontaneously invited a fan on stage to spar with him. This impromptu act entailed significant risk, but it added to the drama and excitement. Nicksick referred to Strickland as a sitcom, drawing laughs and gasps from the crowd in equal measure. This unpredictability made the event even more enthralling, winning Strickland new fans.
Even though Nicksick often worried about Strickland’s antics before the fight, he appreciated his ability to engage with the crowd. He quickly won over the hearts of Australians with his audacity and humor. By the time he received the UFC belt, he had a wide base of vocal supporters cheering him on. Nicksick initially thought the public reaction towards Strickland would be mixed, but his unique personality ended up charming the crowd. Despite the stressed nerves and potential pitfalls, Strickland emerged as the star of the show.