Sean Strickland praises Joshua Van post-fight: 'You're a tougher beast than me'

Sean Strickland made headlines the day after UFC 328 not for his own performance, but for a public show of admiration directed at flyweight champion Joshua Van, whose showing on the same card clearly left a strong impression on the middleweight titleholder.

Strickland, who competes at middleweight and holds the championship at 35 years old, told his coach mid-event that Van was fighting exactly the way he himself wanted to fight. He later addressed Van directly, calling him "a much tougher beast than me." The American, training out of Xtreme Couture, carries a 31-7-0 record and is known for relentless forward pressure, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 42 percent striking accuracy and a 76-inch reach to work with at six-foot-one.

The recipient of that praise, Joshua Van, is only 24 years old and already holds the flyweight title representing Myanmar out of 4oz. Fight Club. "The Fearless" owns a 17-2-0 record and backs up his nickname with elite striking output, landing 8.84 significant strikes per minute at a 56 percent accuracy rate — numbers that rank among the most efficient in the sport. At five-foot-five with a 65-inch reach, Van generates that volume in tight quarters.

Why it matters

• Two champions competing on the same card drew natural cross-divisional attention, amplifying the event's profile.
• Strickland's public comments elevate Van's standing beyond the flyweight division and signal recognition from an established top-tier name.
• The style comparison is notable: Van's 8.84 strikes per minute and 56 percent accuracy represent the kind of high-output, high-efficiency game Strickland openly admires.