Sean Strickland breaks silence on coach’s public ultimatum over UFC 312 ‘sleepwalking’ performance
UFC superstar Sean Strickland fires his coach Erick Nicksick after his comments on the disastrous UFC 312 performance.
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Sean Strickland doesn't want to work with coach Erick Nicksick after UFC 312 (via X)
Sean Strickland‘s championship fight against Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312 was an absolute disaster. Strickland not only lost the bout, but also faced heavy criticism online for his lack of intensity during the fight. His underwhelming performance drew backlash from fans, and even his coach appeared unimpressed, leading to a controversial situation.
Longtime coach Eric Nicksick recently made headlines with his blunt criticism of Sean Strickland’s performance at UFC 312. Nicksick publicly mocked Strickland, describing his lackluster effort as ‘sleepwalking’ and suggesting that he should reevaluate his career. In response, Strickland released a video announcing that he was cutting ties with his coach.
I like Eric. He’s a friend of mine and he’s going to continue to be a friend of mine. Will he probably be in my corner? Probably not….But that entire fight camp was just a struggle….The only reason I’m doing this video is Eric had to go do a f**king podcast and become an influencer so I’ve got to kind of explain myself.
Sean Strickland via X
Strickland revealed that his UFC 312 fight camp was far from ideal, as he battled a broken bone and a staph infection. While he refused to use these setbacks as an excuse, he admitted they affected his confidence. During the fight, Strickland suffered multiple nose fractures, but he didn’t quit. The title challenger pushed forward despite the adversity.
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 12, 2025
On the other side, Du Plessis showed a masterclass performance and proved why he’s the middleweight king. Unlike the first bout, this time, DDP showed a clear difference between him and Strickland. He was less chaotic and more crisp with his striking. Throughout the fight, he didn’t even give a single opportunity for Strickland to bounce back.
UFC veteran reviews Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis
Going into UFC 312, Sean Strickland promised fans a war and promised that he would fight to the death. The trash-talking and bad blood between both fighters further raised the expectations among fans. However, the reality was quite disappointing as Strickland stuck to his jab and teep without showing any intent.
The American fighter received criticism from many fans and experts for his inability to fulfill his promise. Many questioned his technique and suggested Strickland learn new things in the future. Former UFC champion, Kamaru Usman, recently commented on the fight and shared his honest thoughts.
One thing that I noticed that ‘DDP’ did really really well in this fight is just the kicks. He was throwing kicks to the body and they were fast. They were snappy kicks to the head, he caught [Strickland] with that… I will say though, the jab was a little sharper…I don’t wanna take anything away from him. I think in the third, later rounds, once he broke his nose…it was a wrap.
Kamaru Usman via Pound 4 Pound Podcast
During the fight, when the action was limited, fans didn’t shy away from booing, which frustrated Dricus Du Plessis. The champion later revealed that he tried his best, but Strickland wasn’t coming forward. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what’s next for the fighter going forward.
Related: Sean Strickland Net Worth, Endorsements, UFC contract, Wife and House
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Ameetosh Dash
(989 Articles Published)