Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Sean Strickland (red glove) fights Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

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‘Probably Not’- Sean Strickland Gives Major Update On His Coaching Team After UFC 312!

Sean Strickland drops a major update on his coaching team after UFC 312, hinting at drastic changes ahead!

Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Sean Strickland (red glove) fights Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The relationship between fighter and coach often faces its toughest test after a loss. Sean Strickland and Eric Nicksick’s partnership has weathered many storms together, from wild training sessions at Xtreme Couture to the highest of highs when Strickland captured UFC gold. Their journey began years ago when Strickland, known for his unfiltered personality and unique approach to life, found a steady hand in Nicksick, who helped channel his raw talent into championship material.

The aftermath of UFC 312 has brought unexpected turbulence to this long-standing partnership. After Strickland’s unanimous decision loss to Dricus du Plessis in their championship rematch, the tension bubbled over in a way that nobody saw coming. The fight itself didn’t deliver the fireworks Strickland promised, and now the real drama is unfolding outside the octagon.

Also Read: MMA Analyst Praises Dricus Du Plessis’ Championship Mettle After UFC 312

The Breaking Point

Following the loss, Eric Nicksick didn’t pull any punches in his assessment of Strickland’s performance. Speaking with Ariel Helwani, the veteran coach called the fight “uninspiring” and “underwhelming.”

“It was just uninspired fighting… it seemed like he was sleepwalking. It was tough. I was trying to dig him out of it”

Sean Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick was not satisfied with his performance at #UFC312 😬

“It was just uninspired fighting… it seemed like he was sleepwalking…

I want to coach world champions.”

🎥 @arielhelwani #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/w5ZlYDpt5T
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 11, 2025

Sean Strickland, never one to let criticism slide, fired back with his own announcement. He kept it real, as always, throwing a playful jab at Nicksick for “becoming an influencer” with his podcast appearance. “Tarzan’ revealed that Nicksick probably won’t be in his corner anymore. The always-brash Strickland made it clear he will stick with other Xtreme Couture coaches like Nate Pettit and Ray Sefo moving forward.

“I like Eric. He’s a friend of mine and he’s going to continue to be a friend of mine. Will he probably be in my corner? Probably not. We have so many great guys at Xtreme [Couture], Nate [Pettit], Ray Sefo, we have so many savages that I would love to corner me.”

pic.twitter.com/vflbCX75a8
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 12, 2025

Strickland further elaborated that the fight camp leading to the UFC 312 fight was a struggle. He revealed that he was suffering with injuries and infections that no one knew about. This isn’t the first time fans have seen fighter-coach relationships crumble after a title loss, and this probably won’t be the last. These both seem to have had enough of each other and are now going their separate ways.

The Road Ahead

The big question remains: what’s next for both men? Eric Nicksick has still got his hands full with Francis Ngannou and other top fighters. Meanwhile, Sean Strickland needs to rebuild after losing his belt. He has to work his way back up again, winning at least 2 or 3 times to get a shot at the title again.

And sometimes in fighting, like in life, you need a fresh start. As Strickland put it with his trademark honesty, “We all have excuses, and they don’t matter.” Well, at least some things never change in the wild world of MMA!

(Image Credit: Dan Hamilton – Imagn Images)

Eric Nicksick

Sean Strickland

UFC 312

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!