Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland is an American MMA fighter who is a former UFC World Middleweight Champion (185 lbs). Strickland, known for his controversial takes and highly technical fighting style, was born on February 27, 1991, in Anaheim, California, U.S. He clinched the UFC middleweight title by defeating Israel Adesanya in a convincing fashion at UFC 293 on September 10, 2023, but lost it in his first title defense against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297.

Before joining the UFC, Strickland was the former King of the Cage Middleweight Champion. As of January 2025, Strickland occupies the No. 14 spot in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings.

Sean Strickland Personal Information

Name	Sean Strickland
Age	33
DOB	February 27, 1991
Nationality	American
Profession	Professional MMA Fighter
Net Worth	$5 million (estimated)
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg) - Middleweight
Relationship Status	In a relationship with KJ

Sean Strickland Early Life

Sean Strickland was born on February 14, 1991, in Anaheim, California, U.S. Strickland endured a tumultuous childhood marked by an abusive father. In his early years, he defended his mother from his father's aggression, leading to the latter's brief arrest. Despite legal intervention, Strickland's father was released on bail the next day.

During adolescence, Strickland embraced his grandfather's neo-Nazi views, influenced by the film American History X. Expelled for committing a hate crime in ninth grade, he encountered a turning point when his mother introduced him to an MMA gym, exposing him to diverse perspectives.

The camaraderie he experienced while training motivated him to abandon his previously held ideology. At 18, Strickland had another violent encounter with his father, prompting him and his mother to move away from the abusive environment.

Strickland entered the professional MMA scene in 2008 under King of the Cage, achieving an unblemished 9-0 record. His journey culminated in a clash with Josh Bryant for the King of the Cage Middleweight Championship at KOTC: Unification on December 9, 2012. Strickland emerged victorious with a split decision, subsequently defending his title three times. His impressive performance caught the attention of the UFC, leading to his signing with the premier organization.

Sean Strickland's Personal Life

In an interview, Strickland revealed that his father succumbed to cancer at the age of 50. However, Strickland shares a positive and close bond with his mother, despite minimal interaction since his childhood. Other than fighting, Strickland is also an avid biker. In December 2018, he faced adversity when a car struck him while riding a motorcycle in Los Angeles, leaving him unconscious and necessitating a knee operation due to various injuries.

Although Sean Strickland holds controversial opinions about women, he openly shares that he has discovered love and is immensely content in his relationship with his current girlfriend, "KJ."

Sean Strickland's Girlfriend

In the UFC Embedded Series on YouTube, Sean Strickland's girlfriend is referred to by her initials, 'KJ.' While details about her personal and professional life remain undisclosed, Strickland's coach, Erik Nicksick, emphasized in an interview that she played a crucial role in maintaining Strickland's calm demeanor at UFC 293. This composed state of mind contributed to Strickland's success, ultimately leading to him securing the UFC middleweight championship title.

Sean Strickland's Social Media

Sean Strickland has social media accounts on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter). Strickland’s Instagram page is filled with posts of his training montages, fight promotions, interview snippets, and controversial takes. He boasts an impressive follower count of over 2 million on Instagram and over 666,000 on X.

Sean Strickland's Net Worth

As of January 2025, Sean Strickland's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million, primarily stemming from his earnings from fighting and bonuses, along with income generated from various brand endorsements.

Strickland has experienced a substantial increase in his fighter pay over the past year, primarily attributed to his status as a former UFC champion, affording him the privilege of earning shares from pay-per-view (PPV) events.

Sean Strickland's Endorsements

Sean Strickland has inked several endorsement agreements during his career, expanding his brand partnerships. Some of these brands include Monster Energy, Full Violence, The Gun Store (Las Vegas), XILE, and Nitrocross.

Sean Strickland's MMA Record

Sean Strickland holds a respectable professional MMA record of 28 wins and 6 losses (28-6-0). He made his presence known by making his UFC debut in 2014, winning via submission against Bubba McDaniel. Throughout his career, Strickland has faced formidable opponents such as Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira, and Kamaru Usman, earning accolades like Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night. Of his 28 wins, 11 came via knockouts, 4 by submitting his opponent, and 13 by decision. Of his 21 appearances in the UFC, Strickland holds a record of 15 wins and 6 losses.

Sean Strickland's Losses

Sean Strickland has suffered 6 losses in his MMA career, with all 5 of them happening inside the UFC octagon.

Santiago Ponzinibbio (UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir - February 22, 2015)

In a bout at UFC Fight Night on February 22, 2015, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Sean Strickland suffered his first professional MMA loss via a unanimous decision to Santiago Ponzinibbio.

Kamaru Usman (UFC 210 - April 8, 2017)

Sean Strickland encountered former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 210 on April 8, 2017, in Buffalo, New York, where he faced a unanimous decision loss after three rounds.

Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (UFC 224 - May 12, 2018)

Sean Strickland faced a formidable opponent in Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos at UFC 224 on May 12, 2018, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, experiencing a loss via knockout due to a spinning wheel kick and punches.

Alex Pereira (UFC 276 - July 2, 2022)

In a challenging encounter at UFC 276 on July 2, 2022, Sean Strickland suffered a knockout defeat against the current UFC Light-Heavyweight champ, Alex Pereira, in the first round at Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jared Cannonier (UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland - December 17, 2022)

Sean Strickland faced a controversial split decision loss against Jared Cannonier in a hard-fought battle at UFC Fight Night on December 17, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dricus du Plessis (UFC 297: Strickland vs. du Plessis - January 20, 2024)

Sean Strickland faced a close split decision loss against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297, losing his UFC middleweight title in the process.

Sean Strickland House

Sean Strickland resides and fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.