Sean Strickland has made UFC history by becoming only the second middleweight champion ever to reclaim his title after losing it. Israel Adesanya was the first fighter in the division to accomplish this feat. Strickland's victory cements his status as a legend in the middleweight division. The achievement highlights the difficulty of regaining championship status in one of the UFC's most competitive weight classes. This historic comeback adds significant weight to Strickland's legacy in the sport.
Sean Strickland has etched his name into UFC history, becoming only the second middleweight champion ever to reclaim the title after previously losing it, a milestone confirmed as of May 10, 2026.
Strickland, 35, now holds a 31-7-0 professional record and is once again the reigning UFC middleweight champion. Fighting out of Xtreme Couture, the American known as "Tarzan" stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and fights from an orthodox stance. His output has long been one of his defining weapons — he lands an exceptional 6.04 significant strikes per minute, a volume that places him among the busiest fighters in the division.
The only other middleweight to accomplish the same feat was Israel Adesanya, who earned that distinction before Strickland. "The Last Stylebender," now 36 and ranked eighth in the division with a 24-6-0 record, fights out of City Kickboxing in New Zealand and represents Nigeria. The six-foot-four striker with an 80-inch reach posts a striking accuracy of 48 percent and averages 4.03 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the most technically refined stand-up fighters the division has ever seen.
Why it matters
- Only two middleweights in UFC history have ever reclaimed the title after losing it, underlining how rare this achievement is.
- Strickland's championship reign adds a new chapter to one of the most competitive weight classes in the promotion.
- The accomplishment solidifies his legacy alongside Adesanya as the only men to navigate the division's brutal attrition and return to the top.
- At 35, Strickland's ability to recapture gold speaks to the sustained elite level required to compete in the 185-pound ranks.
