Coach Eric Nicksick to Corner Sean Strickland at UFC Houston
Sean Strickland, also known as “Tarzan,” is set to make his return to the octagon at UFC Houston on February 21, where he will face off against Anthony Hernandez. In a surprising turn of events, Coach Eric Nicksick will be cornering Strickland for the upcoming fight, despite their previous disagreement. The two had parted ways after Strickland’s lackluster performance against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, which prompted Nicksick to publicly criticize his fighter.
Nicksick’s criticism stemmed from Strickland’s unenthusiastic performance, where he failed to deliver on his promise of an entertaining fight. Instead, Strickland relied heavily on jabbing, which led to a disappointing outcome. Du Plessis also broke Strickland’s nose in Round 4 of the title rematch, adding to the disappointment. In an interview with The Ariel Helwani Show, Nicksick expressed his disappointment, stating, “It was just uninspired fighting to me. It just seemed like [Sean Strickland] was sleepwalking. It was tough, man… To travel all the way [to Australia], and let’s not forget, this is a title fight… I take these title fights very seriously. I was just disappointed, man.”
Strickland had initially declared that Nicksick would not corner him again after the public criticism. However, the two have since made amends, with Nicksick admitting that his timing was wrong. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting on SBN, Nicksick confirmed that he will be cornering Strickland at UFC Houston, stating, “Yes, sir, I’m there. First and foremost, I think for me, there were a lot of learning experiences from that situation, a lack of communication on both of our parts.” He added, “We just got to be better at our communication with one another, you know, and that was it. And we talked about everything about a week or two after the fact. He knew where I was coming from. He knew the bottom line was. I just have a high standard of expectations for him, because I know what he’s capable of, and he knows that I love him and I care for him.”
Reconciliation and Preparation for UFC Houston
Nicksick’s decision to corner Strickland at UFC Houston comes after a period of reconciliation between the two. Strickland had recently revealed that he was forced to take the UFC 312 title rematch despite not being ready and having an injured shoulder. This new information sheds light on the circumstances surrounding Strickland’s performance and may have contributed to Nicksick’s decision to re-evaluate their working relationship. With their differences settled, Nicksick and Strickland are now focused on preparing for the upcoming fight against Hernandez, which promises to be a challenging matchup.
As Strickland prepares to face Hernandez, he will be looking to bounce back from his previous loss and prove himself as a top contender in the UFC. With Nicksick in his corner, Strickland will have the guidance and support of an experienced coach who knows him well. The outcome of the fight will depend on various factors, including Strickland’s physical and mental preparation, as well as his ability to execute his game plan effectively. One thing is certain, however: the reunion between Nicksick and Strickland has generated significant interest, and fans will be eagerly watching their collaboration at UFC Houston.
