Baysangur Susurkayev shared details of sparring with Sean Strickland at the UFC Performance Institute. According to Susurkayev, Strickland showed great respect for Chechen fighters and never asked him to reduce intensity despite having a fight with Hernandez just two weeks away. Susurkayev landed hard leg kicks at full power during their sparring session. He contrasted Strickland's approach with many American fighters who request lighter sparring even a month before their bouts. Susurkayev praised Strickland's character and work ethic during training.
Chechen prospect Baysangur Susurkayev has revealed details of a bruising sparring session with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland at the UFC Performance Institute, conducted just two weeks before Strickland's scheduled fight with Hernandez.
Susurkayev described Strickland as never once asking him to dial back the intensity, even with a bout on the immediate horizon. According to Susurkayev, he landed hard leg kicks at full power throughout the session — the kind of contact many fighters would refuse to absorb so close to competition. Susurkayev noted that a large number of American fighters request lighter sparring as far as a month out from a fight, making Strickland's willingness to go hard stand out. He also praised Strickland's respect for Chechen fighters and spoke highly of his character inside the gym.
Strickland, 35, carries a professional record of 31-7-0 and currently holds the UFC middleweight title. The six-foot-one, 185-centimeter American trains out of Xtreme Couture and brings a relentless output game to every contest, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute with a 76-inch reach that lets him operate effectively at range. His striking accuracy sits at 42 percent, a figure that reflects just how much volume he pours on opponents in every round.
Why it matters
- Strickland's willingness to absorb full-power leg kicks two weeks from fight night underlines a training philosophy that sets him apart from typical pre-fight camp protocols.
- The session offers a window into how the middleweight champion maintains sharpness and toughness heading into a title defense.
- Susurkayev's account reinforces Strickland's reputation as one of the hardest-working and most durable fighters in the division.
