Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal have spoken publicly about Sean Strickland's wrestling abilities, confirming they have heard from credible sources and witnessed firsthand that his grappling is at a high level. Poirier stated that good wrestlers who train with Strickland have told him that Strickland is genuinely strong and excels at getting back to his feet, making him very difficult to hold down on the mat. Masvidal noted that while Chimaev represents a completely different level from Strickland's previous opponents, Strickland has performed well against those closer to Chimaev's caliber. He emphasized that holding Strickland down is extremely difficult, citing his own observations of Strickland training with and grappling against heavyweights. Both veterans agree Strickland's defensive wrestling is underrated and formidable.
Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal have both come forward to publicly praise Sean Strickland's wrestling defense, with each veteran offering firsthand accounts of why the middleweight champion is far harder to control on the mat than his reputation might suggest.
Poirier, a 37-year-old American Top Team lightweight with a 30-10 record, said that quality wrestlers who have trained alongside Strickland have confirmed to him that the champion is genuinely strong and extremely difficult to keep grounded. Poirier himself averages over five significant strikes per minute in his career, and his experience in high-level combat sports gives his assessment real weight. He described Strickland as someone who consistently finds his feet when taken down, making sustained ground control nearly impossible.
Masvidal, also out of American Top Team, brings a 35-17 record and 41 years of combat experience to his evaluation. The Miami-born veteran acknowledged that Khamzat Chimaev represents a different class of threat than anyone Strickland has previously faced, but argued that Strickland has performed well against opponents closer to that caliber. Crucially, Masvidal pointed to his own direct observations of Strickland sparring and grappling against heavyweights as evidence that holding him down is an exceptionally difficult task.
Strickland, 35, holds a 31-7 record and carries a 76-inch reach at six-foot-one. A volume striker who lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute, he is primarily known for his output on the feet rather than his grappling credentials — which makes the assessments from Poirier and Masvidal all the more notable.
Why it matters
- Strickland's wrestling defense has rarely been spotlighted; two respected veterans are now framing it as a genuine asset
- The comments arrive in the context of a potential matchup with Chimaev, whose elite grappling is considered his most dangerous weapon
- If Strickland can neutralize takedowns, any future opponent would be forced into a striking battle against one of the division's highest-volume punchers
