Sean Strickland publicly expressed respect for Joshua Van following their respective fights at UFC 328. Strickland told Van that he watched his bout and told his coach that he wanted to fight the same way. He acknowledged Van as being tougher than himself, calling him "a much harder beast." The exchange highlights the mutual respect between the two fighters after both delivered strong performances on the same card.
Sean Strickland offered a rare public salute to flyweight champion Joshua Van in the aftermath of UFC 328, with the middleweight titleholder going out of his way to praise Van's performance on the same card.
Strickland, who holds the middleweight championship at 31-7-0, 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 35-year-old American, who trains out of Xtreme Couture, is known for an aggressive output-based style, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute across his career. His acknowledgment of Van as someone tougher than himself — calling him "a much harder beast" — carries weight given that context.
Van, just 24 years old, has established himself as one of the most technically precise fighters in the sport. The Myanmar-born flyweight champion holds a 17-2-0 record and lands 8.84 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 56 percent, numbers that place him among the most efficient offensive fighters on the roster. Fighting out of 4oz. Fight Club, Van has built his title reign on a combination of volume, accuracy, and relentless pressure.
Why it matters
- Strickland's praise underscores Van's growing reputation beyond the flyweight division, earning recognition from a champion in a higher weight class.
- Both fighters delivered strong performances at UFC 328, reinforcing the legitimacy of their respective title positions.
- The exchange reflects a rare moment of cross-divisional respect, drawing wider attention to Van and the flyweight championship picture.
