Fighters are always their own worst critics and Sean Strickland proved that yet again even after winning a split decision over Jack Hermansson in the UFC Vegas 47 main event.
Although it was not the best performance, Strickland controlled most of the fight using a vicious jab that kept Hermansson from moving his head during foot exchanges. Strickland stuck to the basics as he was popping Hermansson with rapid-fire punches all night long while also making sure to avoid anything heavy coming back at him.
After the bout was over, Strickland was awarded the win by two judges with scores of 49-46,. Although Hermansson was awarded the fight by one judge with a 48-47 score after five rounds, it seemed that Strickland had performed more than enough for the win.
Strickland later apologized to the team for being cautious and not taking greater risks on Saturday night.
” I’m sorry guys,” Strickland stated. “I was being a pansy. I should have stayed in the pocket and thrown. Perhaps I allowed the pressure to get me. It was like fighting like a brat. I think I just let the win bonus get the better of me. I should have stayed in the pocket and thrown more.”
From the very start of the fight, Strickland was methodical with his striking while continuously pumping out a lead jab to set up the rest of his strikes. Strickland has been a master of straight punches during this current bout at middleweight. Hermansson was able to dodge many of these shots, however.
Strickland started to increase his output as he continued to pepper away with Hermansson struggling to set up his takedowns, which forced him to engage in more striking exchanges. Strickland didn’t do a lot of damage but he did hit Hermansson with an elbow punch in the second round. This put him down temporarily.
The constant and consistent attacks from Strickland were paying dividends because Hermansson was starting to get a little sloppy when throwing his combinations. Strickland was merely slapping Hermansson repeatedly in the face with his left hand and didn’t really have much to say in return.
Hermansson attempted to increase the pace during the last two rounds but Strickland kept popping him with the same straight punches all night. Strickland was quick on his feet and retorted in the moments when Strickland surged ahead.
With less than two minutes remaining, Strickland was reserved to stick with the same strategy that allowed him to control the majority of the fight while Hermansson just had no answer to his opponent’s offense on the feet.
It appeared Strickland won easily, but despite dominating most of the fight, he walks away with a split decision. He was critical of his win, but Strickland did not lose the fight to earn his fifth straight victory at middleweight.
” I would love to have a title shot, but the UFC already knows that I am a company guy,” Strickland stated. “I will fight who you put in front me.”
Never one to bite his tongue, Strickland also paid homage to the fans for supporting him as he moves to 25-3 in his career while remaining undefeated at middleweight in the UFC.
“Without your guys, I’d probably be a bit of sh*t someplace,” Strickland stated when speaking to the crowd. Let’s go. Let’s go.”
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