The ever-controversial former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has once again found himself in the headlines, this time trading verbal jabs with UFC legend Dan Henderson. The subject? A long-standing point of contention regarding Strickland`s departure from Henderson`s Team Quest gym years ago.
Henderson recently offered his perspective on the split during an appearance on the Overdogs podcast. According to the veteran, Strickland was asked to leave Team Quest due to his aggressive sparring habits and, crucially, for publicly criticizing his teammates online. Henderson stated that despite warning Strickland multiple times about talking negatively about training partners who were there to help him, the behavior continued, ultimately leading to his removal.
True to form, Strickland wasted no time in offering a blunt rebuttal. Taking to Instagram comments, he outright denied Henderson`s account, stating unequivocally, “None of this is true.” Strickland presented an alternative timeline, claiming he served as Henderson`s primary training partner for his final fight. He asserts that after Henderson`s retirement, the fight team naturally dissolved, and he simply left when his membership agreement concluded.
However, in a typical Strickland twist that highlights his notorious lack of filter, he did concede one point from Henderson`s accusation. He admitted to “constantly” mocking the Team Quest fight team online, specifically targeting members who he felt prioritized activities like yoga over sparring. He even named a former teammate, playfully noting the irony that they now regularly spar together at his current gym, Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas.
This public disagreement is another chapter in the ongoing saga of Sean Strickland`s career, frequently marked by outspoken opinions and confrontations both inside and outside the cage. While the precise reasons for his exit from Team Quest remain a matter of conflicting accounts, Strickland`s response is perfectly in character – a defiant denial coupled with a candid, slightly mocking admission about his online behavior.
Additional Controversy Follows Strickland
Adding to his current profile, Strickland`s immediate future in the Octagon faces uncertainty. He is currently under potential scrutiny from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) following an incident at a recent Tuff-N-Uff event. Strickland stormed the cage after a fighter he and teammate Chris Curtis had apparently been taunting secured a submission victory. Strickland was reportedly escorted from the venue after confronting and allegedly punching the fighter in question. As of now, the NSAC has not announced any formal ruling on the incident, leaving his next fight date, potentially a rematch with Israel Adesanya or another bout later this year, up in the air.
Regardless of the outcomes of past gym disputes or current commission issues, one thing remains constant: Sean Strickland continues to generate headlines through a potent combination of his fighting prowess and his unfiltered, often controversial, public persona.
Marcus Bellamy