In a recent interview with Sportskeeda, Sean Strickland’s head coach Eric Nicksick found himself having to clarify comments made about a potential fight between Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev. Nicksick had jokingly mentioned that Strickland might not be able to travel to Saudi Arabia, leading to speculation about the reason behind the fight not happening.
Nicksick explained that his comments were taken out of context and that he was simply speculating about the logistics of the fight. He mentioned that the UFC had approached him about a potential matchup between Strickland and Chimaev in the past, but it didn’t come to fruition due to Chimaev’s health issues.
Despite the missed opportunity, Strickland is now set to face Paulo Costa in a five-round co-main event at UFC 302. Nicksick expressed his respect for Costa as a dangerous opponent and emphasized the importance of not overlooking him in their quest for another title shot.
Meanwhile, Chimaev is gearing up to headline UFC Saudi Arabia against former champion Robert Whittaker, marking his toughest test to date. Nicksick acknowledged the challenge that Whittaker poses for Chimaev and expressed confidence in his fighter’s ability to rise to the occasion.
With both fighters facing tough opponents in their upcoming bouts, the MMA world is eagerly anticipating the outcomes and potential future matchups in the middleweight division. Stay tuned for more updates as the fights draw closer.