Former UFC Champ Sean Strickland Banned For 6 Months

UFC fighter Sean Strickland, the former middleweight champion, was officially suspended for six months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for being involved in a physical altercation with another fighter at a June MMA event. The NSAC’s suspension includes a $5,000 fine. The decision was announced during its monthly meeting on Thursday. The former champion received an indefinite suspension in July, pending a disciplinary hearing. 

Suspension Details

The suspension dates back to when the altercation took place, which was on June 29 at a Tuff-N-Uff event in Las Vegas. It is currently set to end on December 29. Strickland can reduce the suspension to four and a half months if he were to complete an anger management course. 

At the Las Vegas event, he entered the cage following a fight where Miles Hunsinger, a fighter he coaches, lost by submission to Luis Hernandez. After the fight, Hernandez taunted the Hunsinger corner, which led to Strickland and fellow UFC fighter Chris Curtis responding. Video of the altercation showed Strickland throwing punches towards Hernandez. Curtis was fined $2,500 by the NSAC for his role in the post-fight incident. He did not receive an additional punishment. 

What’s Next?

Strickland, who holds a career MMA record of 29-7, has not fought since losing against the then-champion Dricus Du Plessis by unanimous decision for the middleweight title in February. There was no bout scheduled for Strickland at the time of the incident. Du Plessis lost his title against Khamzat Chimaev by unanimous decision at UFC 319. 

Now that the suspension is official, we will most likely have to wait until the suspension is over before we get any news on his next fight. It is very possible that he can work his way back to getting a shot at reclaiming the middleweight title.