Sean Strickland is going to be well-compensated for his short-notice fight with Nassourdine Imavov.
This Saturday, Imavov was supposed to fight Kelvin Gastelum in the main event of UFC Vegas 67, however, an injury forced Gastelum out of the fight and so instead, the No. 7-ranked Strickland stepped in on just a few days’ notice. It’s also a quick turnaround for Strickland, who lost a split decision to Jared Cannonier in the main event of UFC Vegas 66, less than a month ago. Strickland acknowledges that these are ideal circumstances for a fight but the former King of the Cage middleweight champion says the UFC is making it worth his while.
“I was currently planning a snowboarding trip and then Mick [Maynard] calls me and I’m like, ‘Mick is going to ask me to do something I don’t want to do,’” Strickland told reporters at the UFC Vegas 67 media day. “… He calls me and he’s like, ‘Hey, you want this fight?’ I’m like, ‘God damn it, Mick. I haven’t done anything for a month. I’ve been sitting on my ass.’ … Then his suave Australian motherf****** ass says, ‘We’ll pay you a decent amount of money,’ and I said, ‘Well god damn it, I’m your f****** huckleberry. Let’s go f****** fight a man.’”
Since returning to middleweight in 20020, Strickland has seen a career resurgence, winning five fights in a row that put him in a title eliminator bout with Alex Pereira. Unfortunately, Strickland was brutally knocked out in that fight, and after losing to decision to Cannonier, he now finds himself in need of a win to avoid dropping three in a row. That’s a tall order against Imavov who is one of the hottest rising prospects in the middleweight division and is currently riding a three-fight win streak. But in classic Strickland fashion, he’s not all that concerned.
“I’m not even you going to try to f****** say that name,” Strickland said. “Let’s call him the Frenchie. And if we’ve learned anything about the French – what are the French best at? Giving up. So, I haven’t really watched him fight. I know he likes to bang, he throws big punches, but he’s still f****** French. That’s a hard thing to move past. There’s a lot of history of cowardice to move on from when you’re f****** French.
“So maybe he’s in there to prove a statement. Maybe he’s going to say that his country has f****** finally left the cowardice behind, but I don’t f*cking know. Only thing the French are good at is having affairs and giving up and losing fights. But we’ll f****** find out. Maybe he’s different.”
UFC Vegas 67 takes place this Saturday.
TOP STORIES
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Grand Prix. Bellator 8-man Lightweight World Grand Prix lineup announced, will start March 10.
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Assault. UFC vet Anthony Rocco Martin faces assault charge after allegedly threatening Florida cops.
Pay. FaZe Temperrr says fighters are ‘getting robbed’ by UFC, Jake Paul can help MMA industry.
VIDEO STEW
The MMA Hour.
Dana White addresses the media.
The rise of Nassourdine Imavov.
Kevin Lee calls out Jake Paul.
LISTEN UP
Reaction. The MMA Fighting Team reacts to Dana White’s surprise media appearance.
No Bets Barred. Breaking down the best bets for UFC Vegas 67.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
See how ridiculous that argument was?
When I was suspended for 9 months for weed I think the better punishment would have been known as a weed user. That’s the punishment commissioners being known as a weed user, I have to live with that the rest of my life.
— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) January 12, 2023
When I was suspended from winning bonuses for 3 fights for cursing at the crowd and wrecking a hotel room, I think the better punishment would have been to be known as a crowd cursing hotel wrecker @danawhite https://t.co/lcIYqyt2n9
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) January 12, 2023
Fight week.
If you have a dream, believe it, and you can achieve it!!! This is a dream come true for us @puna185 @ufc pic.twitter.com/boFXWkDxvs
— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) January 11, 2023
King of Cringe indeed.
O’Mallyboo’s Least Wanted
#thegiftedgang pic.twitter.com/PpvnQC6RXo— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) January 12, 2023
Oh to dream.
UFC needs a Grand Prix tournament with their talent roster that would be
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) January 11, 2023
Family.
Proud of my beautiful & strong wife for donating her kidney and giving our father a new lease on life ❤️ ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/aRFeaqO7Wt
— Matt “The Steamrolla”Frevola (@SteamRollaa) January 11, 2023
New fight poster.
Our new main event matchup!
Your updated #UFCVegas67 poster has landed! pic.twitter.com/HCQx2t8zTO
— UFC (@ufc) January 11, 2023
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gregory Rodrigues (13-4) vs. Brunno Ferreira (9-0); UFC 283, Jan. 21.
Usman Nurmagomedov (16-0) vs. Benson Henderson (30-11); Bellator 292, March 10.
Tofiq Musayev (20-4) vs. Alexander Shabliy (22-3); Bellator 292, March 10.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading and see you tomorrow!
EXIT POLL
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Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/1/12/23551118/sean-strickland-explains-why-accepted-short-notice-fight-with-nassourine-imavov-at-ufc-vegas-67?rand=96749
