Robert Whittaker Vs. Sean Strickland – How Does It Play Out?

Robert Whittaker has called out Sean Strickland for a potential fight in Sydney, as we look at how the bout could play out. 

Whittaker is looking to get back to winnings ways after suffering two consecutive defeats. He came up short against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308, while losing to Reinier de Ridder in July. Meanwhile, Strickland is not in the best form. He has one victory from his last three fights. Sean lost his middleweight belt to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297.

While he beat Paul Costa at UFC 302 to bounce back, he lost the Du Plessis rematch at UFC 312, missing out on the belt. Strickland dismissed Whittaker’s call-out, saying he would not fight out of the US. This could have been in reference to his prior controversial comments about the Australian government, when he referred to them as communists. 

“I want to fight in Sydney next February. That’s when I’d like to fight next… I’d love to fight [Sean] Strickland. I’ve been wanting that fight for a while. I think it’d be a good fight. He always brings people to cards. I don’t think he’ll come all the way to Australia. But let’s see what happens,” Whittaker said 

The Approach

Whittaker’s path to victory lies in his speed, footwork, and technical striking. Whittaker would likely look to use his speed and mobility to stay on the outside and avoid Strickland’s constant pressure. His game plan would be to use his jab and quick combinations to counter Strickland’s forward march, much like he did in his dominant performances against fighters like Paulo Costa. Whittaker would need to be disciplined and not get drawn into a brawl.

Meanwhile, Strickland’s strategy would be to use his signature style of constant forward pressure and high-volume punching. Strickland is a fighter who loves to walk his opponents down and force them into a brawl. He would likely use his jab to back Whittaker up against the cage and then unleash powerful combinations to the head and body. Strickland’s incredible cardio and toughness would be his biggest assets, as he would look to wear Whittaker down over the course of the fight. His fight with Israel Adesanya is a perfect example of this.