MMA Coach Clarifies Sean Strickland Allegedly Asking for Ticket After Accusations from Jake Paul’s Team

Sean Strickland's coach explained that he had invited the UFC middleweight champion to Jake Paul's MVP MMA card this Saturday.

MMA Coach Clarifies Sean Strickland Allegedly Asking for Ticket After Accusations from Jake Paul’s Team

Coach invited Sean Strickland to attend Jake Paul's inaugural MVP MMA card [via Bloody Elbow and MMA Mania]

In Short
  • Sean Strickland allegedly requested free tickets to the MVP card, sparking backlash from Jake Paul's team.
  • His coach, Eric Nicksick, clarified that the request was to support friend Francis Ngannou at his fight.
  • Ronda Rousey expressed amusement at Strickland's comments and stated he could attend the MVP card.

Sean Strickland has received a lot of flak recently for allegedly requesting free tickets to the upcoming inaugural MVP card. The newly crowned middleweight champion had earlier gone off on the fight between the women’s MMA legends. However, his coach, Eric Nicksick, has come out to clarify the reality of the situation.

During the buildup to the Anthony Hernandez fight in February, Sean Strickland had criticized the MVP card’s main event by claiming no one cared about women’s MMA. However, recently, Nakisa Bidarian, who is a co-founder of MVP along with Jake Paul, lashed out at Strickland. Bidarian alleged that he received a request for free tickets to the event from the middleweight champion.

But Strickland’s coach, Eric Nicksick, says the only reason Sean Strickland made this request was to support his friend. The friend in question is former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Nicksick alleges that he invited Strickland to come watch Ngannou in his first MMA fight since being released from the PFL.

I invited him out here Saturday. He’s going to come out to Francis’s fight. He’ll come out with his wife and my wife. So it’d be good because he was a California guy, and be able to spend some time with him, outside of fight camp, outside of the gym.

Eric Nicksick via MMA Fighting

Nicksick seemed to confirm Strickland’s revelation of training camps being especially difficult for a fighter’s family members. He explained it as the reason he invited Strickland and his wife to the Ngannou fight. ‘Tarzan’ had said after the fight that he and his wife needed a vacation, revealing his plans to support Alex Pereira next month at the White House.

However, supporting Ngannou at the MVP card this Saturday comes with hurdles for Strickland. MVP co-founder, Nakisa Bidarian, revealed to MMA Junkie that he would need to consult the headliners before allowing Sean Strickland to come to Saturday’s event.

Sean Strickland may only have himself to blame for this turn of events, given his comments about Rousey and Gina Carano. In light of Bidarian’s comments, Ronda Rousey confessed to enjoying the power she has now.

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Ronda Rousey gives her verdict on whether Sean Strickland can come to the MVP card

Sean Strickland’s comments about Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano headlining the MVP card went viral back in February. The UFC middleweight champion claimed women were “too empowered” while questioning the relevance of a fight between Carano and Rousey in today’s MMA landscape.

Sean Strickland, Ronda Rousey
Sean Strickland and Ronda Rousey [via AOL and CodeSports]

Despite the inflammatory nature of Strickland’s comments, one-half of Saturday’s main event says he can come to the card. Ronda Rousey laughed while permitting Strickland to attend the inaugural MVP card.

Sure. Yeah, he can come. I’m glad it has to go through me now. But sure, yeah. Come on over. We can convert anyone.

Ronda Rousey via MMA Fighting

The former women’s bantamweight champion seems amused by Strickland as she attempts to break records this Saturday. However, her opponent wasn’t as amused by the situation as “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey was. Gina Carano revealed that she pitied Sean Strickland. She told Fight Hype that she believed Strickland’s rant was rooted in his being hurt.

I think his words are sadly coming from a hurt place. Hurt people hurt people. He’s being exploited, and that pain is on full display. All you can do is pray for that man.

Gina Carano via Fight Hype

That said, Carano made her comments before Bidarian had reacted to Strickland’s rant. Nonetheless, only Saturday will tell whether Sean Strickland will be able to support Francis Ngannou. The heavyweight is set to take on Philipe Lins in his return to MMA in the upcoming inaugural card of Jake Paul’s promotion.

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