Sean Strickland lauds hockey as finest sport he has ever seen, aside from MMA

Sean Strickland spent Thursday night time watching NHL hockey in Edmonton, and by the tip of it the UFC middleweight champion needed to know the place he may discover a sport of his personal.

Hours after the Utah Mammoth beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-2 at Rogers Place, Strickland posted on X:

“I want I used to be right here longer I wanna attempt hockey…. Aside from MMA that was arms down the perfect sport I’ve ever seen….. Any ammy observe tomorrow in Edmonton?”

Take a look at Sean Strickland‘s remark under:

Get the newest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and extra

Strickland is in Alberta to nook Melissa Croden for her ladies’s bantamweight bout towards Chelsea Chandler at UFC Edmonton on Saturday, Oct. 17, additionally at Rogers Place.

The cardboard is headlined by a welterweight bout between Canada’s Mike Malott and Joaquin Buckley.

This wasn’t his first time expressing enthusiasm for the game. Earlier this 12 months, after calling out Vegas Golden Knights gamers for a boxing match on ice, Strickland mentioned he had by no means skated however added that skating “is not laborious.” He additionally mentioned he doesn’t watch sports activities, but when he needed to choose one exterior MMA, it might be hockey.

He described the Golden Knights problem as a bucket-list merchandise and mentioned any boxing match must happen on ice “to make it truthful.”

Contract dispute clouds Sean Strickland’s subsequent combat

Sean Strickland, 35, has not competed since beating Khamzat Chimaev by break up resolution at UFC 328 in Might to win the middleweight title for a second time.

He had been anticipated to defend it towards Nassourdine Imavov, however that plan collapsed throughout a public dispute over his pay. On Oct. 9, Strickland mentioned he “is not going to combat or signal any contract” till the difficulty is resolved.

UFC CEO Dana White mentioned this week that he had not spoken with Strickland immediately and that the earnings determine the champion has cited is “not true,” including that Strickland signed a brand new deal in Might.

Strickland reportedly needed $1 million to defend his title. Nonetheless, the UFC solely provided him $400,000 to point out up and one other $400,000 to win. Imavov, for his half, provided ‘Tarzan’ $500,000 from his personal pocket if the champion would defend the gold.