Sean Strickland addresses viral sparring session with former K-1 kickboxing champion: "I didn't know I was invited to film a death match"
Sean Strickland has shed light on a recently surfaced video showing him engaged in an intense sparring session with Rukiya Anpo, a legendary K-1 kickboxing champion.
The two-minute clip, filmed in Japan, quickly went viral due to the raw aggression displayed by both fighters. Both Strickland and Anpo traded heavy punches throughout the session.
In a post on his X account, although the video initially lacked context, the former UFC middleweight champion has since provided insight into the clip. Despite the intense nature of the video, Strickland assured his fans that it was all in good fun.
He wrote:
"Let's be clear . I was on vacation fat and out of shape, I didn't know I was invited to film a death match hahaha... Let me say that guys head is made of concrete haha tough as they come lol"
Check out Sean Strickland's post below:
Anpo, a 20-6-1 kickboxing champion with a reputation for iron-clad striking, last competed professionally in K-1 in 2023. He did attempt a switch to MMA in 2024, but his debut ended in a first-round submission loss at RIZIN 45.
Sean Strickland is on hold for a title shot as Dricus du Plessis has a different title contender
Sean Strickland has shut down talks of a potential title eliminator fight against Robert Whittaker. He believes his close fight against Du Plessis warrants another shot at the belt, especially considering his dominant victory over Paulo Costa in his most recent outing.
In a social media post, he wrote:
“I keep getting asked to fight whittaker. I beat Izzy, the world knows I beat dricus. Whittaker lost to both. I am the number 1 contender, I defended that spot easily against Costa. I will wait…..”
Check out Sean Strickland's post below:
However, the UFC has recently announced a championship clash between current champion Dricus du Plessis and Israel Adesanya for UFC 305 on August 18. This means Strickland will likely have to wait for his next opportunity.