Sean Strickland publicly expressed respect for Joshua Van following their fights at UFC 328. Strickland told Van that he watched his bout and told his coach he wanted to fight that way himself. He then praised Van as being much tougher than himself. The post notes that both fighters performed at a high level during the event. The exchange highlights the mutual respect between the two competitors despite their separate contests.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland made a point of publicly saluting flyweight champion Joshua Van in the aftermath of UFC 328, offering a candid word of admiration for the younger titleholder following their separate bouts at the event.
Strickland, who carries a 31-7-0 record and holds the middleweight title at 35 years old, told Van directly that he had watched his fight and relayed to his own coach that he wanted to compete in the same manner. The American out of Xtreme Couture then went a step further, calling Van tougher than himself — a striking admission from a fighter known for his own durability and high-volume output. Strickland stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute, but connects at 42 percent accuracy, making his style more pressure-based than precise.
Van, the 24-year-old flyweight champion from Myanmar, represents a contrasting profile. Fighting out of 4oz. Fight Club, the man known as "The Fearless" carries a 17-2-0 record and lands 8.84 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy — numbers that place him among the sharpest offensive fighters in the sport regardless of weight class. He stands five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach and has shown consistent aggression throughout his rise to the title.
Why it matters
- Strickland's praise draws attention to Van as a crossover name capable of generating interest beyond the flyweight division
- Van's striking accuracy of 56 percent stands well above Strickland's own 42 percent, lending weight to the compliment
- The exchange reflects both champions performing at a high level on the same card, raising the profile of UFC 328 as a significant event across multiple divisions
