Strickland shows respect to Van after their fight

Sean Strickland expressed respect for Joshua Van following their bout, stating that he watched Van's fight and told his coach that was how he wanted to perform. Strickland acknowledged Van as a tougher fighter than himself, saying "You're a much tougher beast than me, buddy." The post notes that both fighters delivered high-level performances. This mutual respect came despite the competitive nature of their encounter. The exchange highlights the sportsmanship between the two competitors after what was described as an excellent showing from both men.