Jon Anik campaigns for a Sean Strickland title shot after UFC 302.
After dropping his middleweight title to Dricus Du Plessis in January, Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) rebounded by defeating Paulo Costa on this previous Saturday’s UFC 302 co-main occasion. He demanded a title shot after the win.
Anik agrees with Strickland. He thinks the previous UFC middleweight champion has stepped up for the corporate on quite a few events earlier than.
“I assumed he fought nice,” Anik instructed MMA on Sirius XM. “I assumed he might have waited for a championship alternative and didn’t. I imply, has anybody stepped up for the UFC greater than Sean Strickland?
“The primary occasion in opposition to Nassourdine Imavov, the primary occasion in opposition to Abus Magomedov – each of these had circumstances by which he was stepping up for the UFC, and people got here on the again finish of him placing his No. 4 rating on the road in opposition to Alex Pereira when nobody within the prime 10 would’ve fought him at UFC 276. So if anybody deserves to take a seat proper now for 12 months after primarily dominating Paulo Costa, it’s Sean Strickland.”
Strickland’s battle with Costa drew boos from the group, and prompted UFC CEO Dana White to say it wasn’t the battle he anticipated. Anik thinks it’s unfair for Strickland’s efficiency to be criticized.
“In no different sport do it’s important to win and entertain. Even in a 1-0 baseball recreation – and I stated this on my podcast this week – all people’s giving the pitcher credit score,” Anik stated. “Sean Strickland primarily simply pitched a shutout in opposition to a really harmful man within the prime seven. I’m undecided what he was alleged to do.
“I do know Eric Nicksick came to visit and apologized to Hunter (Campbell) and Dana a little bit bit. I knew it wasn’t the battle we anticipated. I assumed it was going to be the Combat of the Evening. However Sean Strickland – his expertise by no means lead the dialog due to his persona, and I feel his expertise want to steer the dialog and his subsequent battle ought to undoubtedly be for the championship.”
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