Sean Strickland’s first fight as UFC champion didn’t go as he had hoped.
The former UFC middleweight champion shared a behind-the-scenes video this week, capturing the lead-up to and aftermath of his UFC 297 main event against Doricus du Plessis. The video was released on Strickland’s YouTube Channel. It features Strickland’s arrival at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena with his teammate Chris Curtis, their backstage warm-up as UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira looks on, and the split decision loss, showing Strickland’s immediate reaction.
Following a close fight, one judge scored 48-47 in favor of Strickland, while the other two judges scored it 48-47 in favor of South African challenger du Plessis.
Witness Strickland’s journey above.
“I opened my eyes and I couldn’t see at all,” Strickland said upon returning to the locker room with his team. “Welcome to the fight. I feel like Chris Curtis. I’m going to start calling myself Chris Curtis.”
Strickland later attributed his loss to an injury sustained during the match due to an accidental headbutt. “I didn’t do what a coward would say and told the doctor I was blind and got a no contest,” Strickland wrote on Instagram after UFC 297. “I won that battle, the world knows I won that battle. The belt they give you will never make you a champion, have fun. ”
UFC CEO Dana White stated after the fight that Strickland scored a goal but mentioned that the UFC has no plans for an immediate rematch between Strickland and du Plessis.
