Sean Strickland made a number of guarantees forward of his rematch in opposition to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312.
Within the weeks and days main as much as the occasion, Strickland vowed to battle to the dying with plans to convey a conflict to Sydney, to depart no doubts after dropping a heartbreaking break up choice of their first encounter. However in the long run, Strickland misplaced in much more lopsided vogue this time round and he by no means actually modified a lot about his strategy apart from absorbing much more injury.
Following the battle, the previous middleweight champion confronted a number of criticism for a lackluster outing together with UFC analyst Din Thomas erupting while saying that “Sean Strickland shouldn’t be who he says he’s” and “he’s not the man who’s going to go to the dying” when he fights.
Retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown can’t assist however surprise if Thomas or anyone else upset at Strickland simply haven’t been paying consideration this whole time.
“Lots of people are dogging Sean for not ‘preventing to the dying’ or going to conflict or no matter,” Brown stated on the most recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “What I need to know is when did we begin listening to what fighters say? Notably what Sean Strickland says?
“He’s an apparent good fighter, an elite fighter. What he has achieved has received him to the place he’s at. Why would you all of the sudden change it up and why would we anticipate him to all of the sudden change that up within the fifth spherical or fourth or no matter? That is what he does. That is who he’s.”
As a lot as Strickland may get the gang riled up by declaring that he’s going to battle to the dying, Brown is aware of that’s nothing greater than promotional bluster.
The larger issue to think about right here is Strickland’s historical past the place he’s largely displayed the identical type in nearly each battle he’s had within the UFC. Brown says anyone who really believed that he was all of the sudden going to throw down in some form of wild brawl has nobody accountable however themselves for what really unfolded at UFC 312.
“We all know what he’s going to do when he goes in there and fights,” Brown stated. “It’s a secure type and it’s a very good type to win fights on choices. Once more, that is what the UFC has achieved — I’ve talked about this many instances — what they’ve achieved higher than any sport in historical past is that they have magnified the personalities of these competing. We completely purchase into this and we adore it. That’s what the UFC markets.
“The UFC by no means as soon as marketed Sean Strickland’s preventing type however they completely marketed who he’s as an individual. With social media today, it magnifies it much more and the UFC is simply going to enlarge that an increasing number of. There are a number of guys like this.”
Brown doesn’t fault Strickland for making loopy claims earlier than he competes as a result of that’s what most fighters do to get individuals sufficient to plunk down $80 on a UFC pay-per-view.
To all of the sudden get upset that Strickland just about fought how he all the time fights simply exhibits that some people aren’t paying consideration.
“What’s he imagined to say?” Brown stated. “Do you anticipate him to hype up the battle by saying, ‘Yeah, I’m going to go in and jab him for 5 rounds, all people tune in!’ No, he’s attempting to hype the battle and get all people and it really works.
“All people buys into that propaganda or rhetoric or no matter and all people buys in and needs to observe. Now all people is speaking about it. All people is so shocked he didn’t go to conflict and attempt to be prepared to die for it. When did this grow to be his factor?”
Maybe this isn’t what some followers or analysts need to hear however Brown is aware of most fighters spout all kinds of nonsense to drum up curiosity in an occasion.
It’s nothing new and Strickland didn’t do something mistaken by under-delivering on outlandish claims made throughout interviews or a pre-fight press convention.
“We’ve received to take out the issues that they are saying,” Brown stated. “That’s laborious to do as a result of there’s a lot of that PR on the market about these guys and we get to know them. You don’t see this sort of stuff in different sports activities. We base it off stats and goal measurable numbers. This sport, all people buys into the personalities and the clown present for some individuals. The Colby Covington clown present. Issues like this.
“[Sean Strickland] could consider in his thoughts that he fights to the dying. If it was an precise battle to the dying, it was a no time restrict, he could be able to doing that, and I don’t doubt that he would. However this can be a sport with guidelines. Lots of what we are able to see is goal. Objectively, he has by no means fought that method. Why would we anticipate him to all of the sudden battle that method?”
