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UFC News: Ex-Champ Sean Strickland Teases New Contract & Next Fight
Former middleweight king Sean Strickland is ready to get back into the Octagon after sorting out some monetary concerns with the UFC.
Strickland pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history last year when he took the middleweight belt from Israel Adesanya, but his title reign ended up being short-lived after he suffered a narrow split-decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297.
The 33-year-old initially argued his case for an immediate rematch but seems to have abandoned that idea, and now it appears that recent negotiations with the UFC have encouraged the former champion to accept a matchup with Paulo Costa.
Well had a meeting with the UFC and told them that I don't want to be rich. I want to be able to support a family after my career is done
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) April 10, 2024
They actually were pretty supportive, made it happen. Thank you fans!
Alright @BorrachinhaMMA you got your wish... Let's do some bleeding.
Strickland previously suggested he was dissatisfied with the proposed pay for a fight with Costa. After the two middleweights have been verbally sparring online “The Eraser” seems thrilled to hear that the matchup is close to being finalized.
Let’s go COWBOY 🤠🧃🔥 https://t.co/zEZkP5Qn4p pic.twitter.com/g1N2xwpTQh
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) April 11, 2024
Currently the UFC’s #7-ranked middleweight contender, Costa recently ended a lengthy layoff when he took on Robert Whittaker at UFC 298 but lost a unanimous decision.
Whittaker is now set to take on Khamzat Chimaev in a potential #1-contender bout at UFC Saudi Arabia, and with the UFC reportedly eyeing a matchup between Du Plessis and Adesanya for UFC 305 a fight between Strickland and Costa would be a huge opportunity for one of those men to get back into the middleweight title picture.
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