Sean Strickland expressed respect for Joshua Wen following their fight at UFC 328. Strickland told Wen he had watched his previous bout and admired his fighting style, saying it was how he wanted to fight. Strickland called Wen a tougher fighter than himself. The exchange was captured on video by Engage. The mutual respect between the fighters was notable given the intensity of their bout. Both fighters earned praise for their performances on the night.
Sean Strickland took a moment after his middleweight title defense at UFC 328 on May 9 to show genuine appreciation for his opponent Joshua Wen, with the post-fight exchange captured on video by Engage.
Strickland, who holds the middleweight championship at 35 years old, told Wen directly that he had studied his previous fight and admired the way he competed. The American fighter from Xtreme Couture went further, saying Wen's style reflected exactly how he himself wanted to fight — and even called Wen the tougher man between the two of them. The moment stood out for its candor given the intensity of what had unfolded between them inside the octagon.
Strickland carries a 31-7-0 professional record and has built his reputation as one of the division's most relentless pressure fighters. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, he lands an exceptional 6.04 significant strikes per minute, a volume that puts him among the busiest offensive fighters in the middleweight division. He operates out of an orthodox stance and has long prioritized forward movement and constant output over grappling, averaging just 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Strickland's public praise for Wen adds context to how competitive the bout was on the night
- The exchange highlights the culture of respect that can follow hard-fought title fights
- Wen's performance earned recognition from the champion himself, which carries weight for his divisional standing going forward
Saturday, May 9, 2026
