SUMMARY
- In a controversial decision against Dricus du Plessis, Sean Strickland lost his middleweight title.
- Notably, Strickland's verbal tirade against journalist Alexander K. Lee garnered a lot of attention.
Sean Strickland is slowly returning to normal life after the events of UFC 297. In a controversial decision against Dricus du Plessis, Strickland lost his middleweight title. As such, the former champ has now opened up about what’s next for him and the end of his fighting career.
For those unaware, Strickland attempted to make his first title defense at UFC 297. Despite a valiant effort and many scoring the fight in his favor, the judges’ decision went against him. Naturally, the 32-year-old was left dismayed and disappointed, but he accepted the result the best he could.
Notably, Sean had a very brief post-fight interview and was a no-show for the post-fight press conference. Thus, many were worried about the fighter, who had endured a soul-crushing loss. However, fans were glad to see that Strickland was back to normal with his antics on social media. In the numerous messages he has put out since then, the fighter has hinted at his political ambitions.
Sean Strickland intends to run for office after retirement
In the lead-up to UFC 297, Sean Strickland experienced his first time on the main stage. As such, owing to his media day shenanigans, the world was introduced to the fighter and his behavior. Notably, Sean’s verbal tirade on journalist Alexander K. Lee garnered a lot of eyeballs, with many siding with the fighter’s opinion.
At the same time, many condemned his statements as well, something that fans believe led to him losing his fight. With that said, Sean received a lot of support for his honest views and opinions on the LGBTQ community. Similarly, the people of Canada gave Strickland a warm welcome and even stayed for his post-fight speech. Notably, during the event, loud chants of ‘F**k Trudeau’ could also be heard.
After MMA…. I have a lot more wars in me… Until then I’ll just be speaking for you guys in the cage. https://t.co/IWXeMTt5GE
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) January 23, 2024
Could you picture me sitting across from AOC as she’s telling everyone why children should be able to castrate themselves?! Come on you guys… You know one day you will need that in your life. https://t.co/BqIAJlOt5K
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) January 23, 2024
All things considered, the events have seemingly encouraged Sean Strickland to think about life after MMA. Seeing the effect that he has on the masses, Strickland believes that a future in politics could be the right move for him. Thus, he has already taken to social media to speak about having to debate against politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and challenging her views.
UFC fighters that endorse and have CBD companies
Speaking about his plans, Sean Strickland makes it clear that he is not ready to hang up the gloves just yet. In his messages to the fans, he clearly states that he intends to fight for a few more years. Seeing the state of the division and his age, he can make another run at the title and potentially even claim it again.
Since the fight, Strickland has been adamant that he will face Dricus du Plessis in a rematch sometime in the future. However, to get to that position, the former champ will need to win an important fight. Interestingly, Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa are set to throw down at UFC 298 in February. As such, many have suggested that Sean should target the winner of that fight to guarantee himself another title shot.
After I’m done fighting in a few years and I’m sitting on a big pile of money I probably will run for some public office position… ill never win but I’d rather do something I care about instead of starting a CBD company lmao
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) January 23, 2024
Thus, it is clear that Strickland intends to stay around for some time. Moreover, he will also have something to look forward to after his career and not rely on having to start a CBD company. In one of his posts, Sean indirectly threw shade at fighters like Nate Diaz (Game Up Nutrition) and Dustin Poirier (Reap CBD).
Since the UFC removed CBD from its list of prohibited substances, many athletes have turned to the substance. For those unaware, cannabidiol acts as an enhancer, boosting energy levels, providing stress relief, and many other benefits. As such, athletes like Kamaru Usman, Jon Jones, and many other notable fighters use CBD. However, many, like Strickland, remain on the fence about using such substances.