“That was my dream,” UFC Champ Sean Strickland reveals Football aspirations in younger days to NFL star Max Crossby

Sean Strickland, the UFC middleweight champion, recently revealed his prior football ambitions during an ESPN MMA podcast interview with NFL player Maxx Crosby. Megan Olivi, a renowned MMA journalist, conducted the interview, which shed light on the athlete’s former goals as well as his unusual road to becoming a UFC champion. Strickland is set to defend his title this weekend against Dricus Du Plessis.

During the lively debate, Megan Olivi talked to both Sean Strickland and Crosby about their respective paths in life. The duo also expressed mutual admiration, both in and outside of sports. The highlight of the interview came when Sean Strickland delved into his past aspirations of becoming a football player. This is what he had to say when asked if he had a football background:

I actually loved it. That was like my f****** dream. When I was from 8 to freshman, that was like my be-all-end-all moment. They said that I couldn’t play football. I was like f*** this,, f*** you guys.

Sean Strickland via ESPN MMA

Strickland also believed that he eventually lost interest in football as it did not allow hitting other people anymore. He felt his calling in the more violent sport of Mixed Martial Arts. This decision took him to the highest level, as he became the middleweight champion of the UFC. 

The ESPN MMA interview with Sean Strickland and Maxx Crosby is a fascinating look at their mutual respect, and shared experiences. It also provides insights into the unexpected turns in Strickland’s career from wannabe footballer to UFC middleweight champion. 

Sean Strickland and Maxx Crosby’s first interaction

In the most recent interview with Megan Olivi, a fascinating chat erupted between UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland and Las Vegas Raiders Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby. The interview focused on the initial meeting and the relationship between these two outstanding athletes. This comes just a day before his fight with Dricus Du Plessis.

During the discussion, Strickland and Crosby provide insights into how they first met, emphasizing the mutual respect that served as the foundation of their partnership. The interview delved into the similarities between the worlds of mixed martial arts and professional football, highlighting the shared beliefs and experiences that connect the sportsmen. This is what Strickland had to say when asked about how he met Crossby:

I was at a fight, there is this gigantic white man in the audience saying like ‘Kill that motherf*****’ more or less and I was like I like this f*cking guy. Turns out he is this bad*ss Raiders player that likes violence.

Sean Strickland via ESPN MMA

The interview not only provides a forum for debating sports but also allows audiences to interact with the characters behind the sportsmen. It humanizes these athletes by highlighting their common path and real friendship that has grown over time.

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