The controversial Sean Strickland continues his rise in the UFC’s middleweight division.
Strickland defeated Jack Hermansson via split decision (49-46, 47-48, 49-46) Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. Strickland used his jab to keep Hermansson at bay the entire fight. Hermansson did not succeed on any takedown attempts and Strickland was clearly the superior tactical striker, albeit not an aggressive one.
“I was being a pansy,” Strickland said in his postfight interview. “I should have stayed in the pocket and thrown like I did at the end. Maybe, I let the pressure get to me. Again, sorry. I was fighting like a b—- out there. Sorry. … Lesson learned. Won’t happen again.”
Coming in, ESPN had Hermansson ranked No. 8 in the world at middleweight and Strickland at No. 10. Strickland said he’ll fight whoever the UFC wants next, but he would prefer a title shot….
