Baysangur Susurkayev shared details of his sparring session with Sean Strickland at the UFC Performance Institute, which took place just two weeks before Strickland's fight with Hernandez. Susurkayev described landing hard leg kicks at full intensity during the session. He noted that Strickland never asked him to reduce the power or be more careful despite the proximity to his upcoming fight, contrasting this with many American fighters who request lighter sparring even a month before competition. Susurkayev also mentioned that Strickland expressed respect for Chechen fighters, calling them good fighters and worthy people. The session highlighted Strickland's willingness to train hard regardless of circumstances.
Baysangur Susurkayev has opened up about a full-contact sparring session he shared with Sean Strickland at the UFC Performance Institute, revealing it took place just two weeks before Strickland stepped into competition against Hernandez.
Susurkayev described the session as genuinely hard work, noting he was landing leg kicks at full intensity throughout. What struck him most was Strickland's refusal to ask for anything lighter, even with a fight looming on the horizon. Susurkayev drew a pointed contrast with many American fighters he has trained alongside, saying some request reduced power as far as a month out from competition. Strickland, he indicated, simply trained.
Sean Strickland, 35, is the reigning middleweight champion, carrying a professional record of 31 wins and 7 losses. The American fighter out of Xtreme Couture stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and fights out of an orthodox stance. He is one of the more active strikers in the division, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute at a 42 percent accuracy rate, numbers that reflect the high-volume pressure style he brings into every training room as much as every cage.
Susurkayev also recounted that Strickland expressed genuine respect for Chechen fighters during their time together, reportedly describing them as good fighters and worthy people.
Why it matters
- The account reinforces Strickland's established reputation for training at full intensity deep into fight camps, regardless of fight proximity.
- Susurkayev's firsthand perspective offers a rare outside look at how the middleweight champion prepares behind closed doors.
- The cultural exchange between Strickland and a Chechen training partner adds a human dimension to his public profile heading into his continued championship reign.
