Baysangur Susurkaev shared details of his encounter with Sean Strickland at the UFC Performance Institute. Strickland expressed respect for Chechen fighters, calling them skilled and worthy people. The two sparred together just two weeks before Strickland's fight with Hernandez, with Susurkaev landing hard leg kicks at full power. Despite having a fight approaching, Strickland never asked to reduce intensity or protect his legs, unlike many American fighters who request lighter sparring even a month out from competition. Susurkaev praised Strickland's toughness and character, noting he completed all sparring rounds without complaint.
Baysangur Susurkaev has opened up about a sparring session with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland that took place at the UFC Performance Institute just two weeks before Strickland's fight against Hernandez.
Susurkaev described Strickland as someone who showed genuine respect for Chechen fighters, reportedly telling him they were skilled and worthy people. The two went to work together on the mats, with Susurkaev throwing hard leg kicks at full power throughout the session. According to Susurkaev, Strickland never once asked him to dial back the intensity or go easy on his legs — a sharp contrast, Susurkaev noted, to many American fighters who request lighter sparring even a full month before competition.
Strickland, who holds a professional record of 31 wins and 7 losses, is the reigning middleweight champion at 35 years old. The American fighter, who represents Xtreme Couture and stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, is known for his relentless output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute. That willingness to absorb punishment in the gym, apparently, extends to taking full-power leg kicks with a fight on the horizon.
Susurkaev came away from the experience with clear admiration for Strickland's mental toughness and character, noting that the champion completed every round without a single complaint.
Why it matters
- The account paints a picture of Strickland's unusual approach to pre-fight preparation, leaning into intensity rather than protecting himself late in a camp.
- His willingness to absorb hard leg kicks two weeks out reflects the kind of durability that has helped him reach championship level in one of the UFC's most competitive divisions.
- For Susurkaev, sparring with a titleholder at the UFC Performance Institute represents meaningful exposure at the elite level of the sport.
