Eric Nicksick, the head coach of Sean Strickland, has addressed the misunderstanding surrounding his comment regarding a potential bout between Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev. His remark about the fight possibly taking place in Saudi Arabia was meant in jest but was misinterpreted by some MMA publications.
Nicksick clarified, “It was a light-hearted comment. I’m not sure why the fight fell through, but the location might have been a factor. Since Khamzat has a strong following in Saudi Arabia, it made sense for him to compete there. If there were any travel complications for Sean, it wouldn’t have been logical to put him in the headline slot.”
Although the UFC had discussed a potential showdown between Strickland and Chimaev during Strickland’s championship reign, the fight did not come to fruition. Instead, Strickland faced Dricus du Plessis, relinquishing the title after a split decision defeat.
Looking forward, Strickland is slated to take on Paulo Costa in a grueling five-round co-main event at UFC 302. Nicksick recognizes Costa as a formidable adversary and acknowledges that a victory over him could pave the way for another title opportunity.
In the meantime, Chimaev is gearing up to headline UFC Saudi Arabia against Robert Whittaker on June 22, marking a significant challenge in his career.
Both fighters have tough matchups on the horizon, and Nicksick is dedicated to ensuring Strickland is well-prepared to confront Costa and continue his quest for another shot at the championship.
