Sean Strickland Eyeing Move to Boxing

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland (31-7) wants to explore opportunities in boxing, preferably with Zuffa Boxing which is under the same TKO banner as the UFC.

Strickland, whose pressure-heavy fighting style has long relied on his boxing, made his intentions clear in a recent statement.

“I love MMA but I want to box,” Strickland said. “Prefer Zuffa but if they can’t make that happen…”

The 35-year-old is currently in his second reign as UFC middleweight champion after reclaiming the belt from Khamzat Chimaev on May 9. Strickland survived a difficult opening round before rallying to hand Chimaev his first professional MMA defeat via split decision, with two judges scoring the fight 48-47 in his favor.

Number 3 ranked UFC middleweight, Nassourdine Imavov, has been rumored to be Strickland’s first defense of his second reign, possible on December 12 in Las Vegas, although the UFC has yet to officially announce the bout.

Strickland joins a growing list of UFC stars who’ve expressed interest in a Zuffa Boxing crossover, including the two-division champions Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria, and the former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, among others.

A move to Zuffa Boxing would allow Strickland to pursue his interest in the sport while remaining under the wider TKO umbrella.