Strickland shares photo after UFC 328: 'Best job in the world'

Sean Strickland took to social media in the hours after UFC 328 to share a photo of himself bearing the marks of battle, paired with a caption that read "Best job in the world" — a moment of raw reflection following his recapture of the UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev on May 9.

Strickland, 35, now holds a professional record of 31-7-0 and has reclaimed the title he previously held in the 185-pound division. The American fighter, who trains 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, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute while operating at 42 percent accuracy — volume that keeps opponents under near-constant pressure across every round.

The photo, posted the morning after the event, showed visible wear from the championship bout, yet Strickland's caption made clear his emotional state was one of gratitude rather than discomfort. It is the kind of unfiltered self-expression that has become a hallmark of his public persona throughout his career.

Why it matters

• Strickland's championship victory at UFC 328 reshapes the middleweight landscape, with a 31-7-0 champion now firmly back at the top of the division.
• His post-fight social media presence underscores the personal significance of the win, framing the physical cost of fighting as something he embraces rather than endures.
• The return of Strickland to champion status sets up significant questions about who steps forward as the next contender in a stacked 185-pound division.