Sean Strickland Record: 31-7-0

Climbing the middleweight ranks

Fighting much of his early UFC run at welterweight, Strickland mixed wins over Alex Garcia and Tom Breese with a brutal 2018 knockout loss to Elizeu Zaleski via spinning wheel kick. After a serious motorcycle accident interrupted his career, he returned in 2020 and reinvented himself at middleweight, reeling off wins over Jack Marshman, Brendan Allen, Krzysztof Jotko and Uriah Hall. A 2022 first-round knockout loss to Alex Pereira and a narrow split-decision setback to Jared Cannonier briefly stalled him, but wins over Nassourdine Imavov and Abus Magomedov put him back in the title picture.

Middleweight champion

Strickland's defining night came at UFC 293 in September 2023, where he produced a masterclass to upset pound-for-pound star Israel Adesanya over five rounds and claim the UFC Middleweight Championship. He lost the belt by razor-thin split decision to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in early 2024, rebounded with a split-decision win over Paulo Costa, then dropped the 2025 rematch to Du Plessis. He rebuilt again with a 2026 stoppage of Anthony Hernandez and a split-decision win over previously unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 to recapture championship gold.

Fighting style

Strickland is one of MMA's most distinctive technicians, built around a high-output, defensively tight boxing game and a rangy southpaw-orthodox stance switch that lets him pile up volume while absorbing little in return. His record reflects that volume-first identity: of his 31 wins, 15 have come by decision and 12 by knockout, with four submissions, a roughly 52% finish rate. He is durable, cardio-rich over five rounds and exceptionally hard to hurt, though his measured, points-based approach has occasionally cost him in the closest of judges' verdicts. When opponents fade, his pressure and pace consistently break them down.

Career highlights

• UFC Middleweight Champion — outclassed Israel Adesanya over five rounds at UFC 293 to capture the title in one of the division's biggest upsets.
• Two-time titleholder — reclaimed the middleweight belt at UFC 328 by defeating then-unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev by split decision.
• Elite durability and volume — built a 31-7 record on a pressure-boxing style that has shared the cage with champions including Adesanya, Du Plessis, Usman and Pereira.