Sean Strickland expressed respect for Joshua Whittaker following their fight at UFC 328. Strickland stated that he watched Whittaker's bout and told his coach that was how he wanted to fight. He acknowledged Whittaker as a tougher fighter than himself. The post notes that both fighters performed at a high level during the event. This exchange demonstrates sportsmanship between the two competitors following their clash.
Sean Strickland took a moment after his UFC 328 victory to publicly acknowledge his opponent, expressing genuine admiration for Joshua Whittaker's performance during their middleweight clash at the May 9 event.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, shared that watching Whittaker compete made such an impression that he pointed out the fighter to his coach and said that was exactly the style he wanted to bring into his own game. In a notable display of sportsmanship, the 35-year-old American went as far as calling Whittaker a tougher fighter than himself — a candid admission that carries real weight coming from one of the division's most durable competitors.
The Xtreme Couture product carries a 31-7-0 professional record and has built his championship reign on relentless forward pressure and volume striking. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, Strickland lands an exceptional 6.04 significant strikes per minute, a pace that ranks among the most prolific in the middleweight division. His striking accuracy sits at 42 percent, and while he is primarily a striker, he also contributes 0.71 takedown attempts per 15 minutes with an orthodox stance that suits his grinding, pressure-based approach.
Why it matters
- Strickland's public praise signals Whittaker pushed the champion harder than expected, raising Whittaker's profile in the division
- The comments could fuel future matchmaking conversations at 185 pounds
- Genuine post-fight respect from a champion carries divisional weight and may influence how both fighters are perceived heading into their next assignments
Saturday, May 9, 2026
