Coach Eric Nicksick Eyes Title Shot for Sean Strickland

Former Champion Sean Strickland

As the middleweight division gears up for the highly anticipated clash between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, Sean Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, has made it clear—his fighter deserves the next shot at the title.

UFC 305, scheduled for August 17th at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, will see Du Plessis, the reigning champion, defend his belt for the first time against the former two-time titleholder Adesanya. While the MMA world is buzzing about this matchup, Nicksick is already looking ahead, confident that Strickland should face the winner before the year ends.

“In my mind, he never really lost the belt,” Nicksick stated during an interview with MMA Fighting.

Strickland’s coach believes that the split-decision loss to Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January didn’t truly reflect his fighter’s capabilities.

“It was such a close fight against Dricus. He dominated Izzy. I think if Izzy wins that fight, that’s an easy rematch. Izzy’s gonna wanna get that revenge. If Dricus wins, I think we put that (Izzy rematch) to rest and give Sean the opportunity to avenge that loss.”

Nicksick’s conviction stems from Strickland’s performance in September 2023 when he defeated Adesanya by a unanimous decision to claim the middleweight title. However, his reign was short-lived, as Du Plessis snatched the belt from him just four months later. Despite this, Nicksick is adamant that Strickland has unfinished business in the division and deserves another crack at the crown. With UFC 305 just around the corner, Nicksick is eyeing a quick turnaround for Strickland.

“These guys fight next week, so we can fight by November or December,” he said, suggesting that Strickland is ready to step back into the octagon sooner rather than later.

The middleweight division has never been more competitive, and Strickland’s claim to another title shot is sure to spark debate among fans and analysts alike. But for Nicksick, there’s no doubt—whether it’s Du Plessis or Adesanya who emerges victorious at UFC 305, Sean Strickland is the rightful next contender.

Do you agree with Nicksick that Strickland deserves the next shot at the middleweight crown?