Strickland praises Van's performance after UFC 328

Sean Strickland offered a public show of respect for Joshua Van in the aftermath of UFC 328 on May 9, praising the flyweight champion's performance and acknowledging him as a tougher fighter than himself.

Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, reportedly told his corner during Van's fight that he wanted to replicate what he was watching. That kind of real-time admiration from one champion to another underlines the regard Strickland has developed for the 24-year-old from Myanmar.

Strickland carries a 31-7-0 record and has long been one of the most active strikers in the middleweight division. The 35-year-old Xtreme Couture product throws at a rate of 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach, applying relentless forward pressure from his orthodox stance. His wrestling is steady as well, averaging 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.

Van, fighting out of 4oz. Fight Club, has built one of the more impressive resumes in the flyweight division at just 24 years old. The Myanmar-born champion owns a 17-2-0 record and puts up striking numbers that stand out even at the championship level, landing 8.84 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy. That combination of volume and efficiency is rare at any weight class.

Why it matters

• Strickland's comments add a layer of cross-divisional respect between two reigning UFC champions
• Van's striking output — 8.84 significant strikes per minute at 56 percent accuracy — reinforces his status as one of the most dangerous finishers in the flyweight division
• The moment reflects both fighters delivering standout performances on the same card, raising the profile of UFC 328 as a whole