UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has come to the defense of Sean Strickland following his title-fight loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312. Cormier stated that fans are piling on Strickland unfairly, and it’s essential to consider that losses happen in the sport.
Strickland lost the fight by unanimous decision, but Sonnen believes he made an honorable effort despite being bloodied for most of the bout with a broken nose. Sonnen thinks Du Plessis deserves praise for his performance, as he walked away with the win and proved to be better than Strickland in their matchup.
Cormier agrees that Strickland’s intention was to die on his feet, but it didn’t work out in this instance. He believes it’s crucial to acknowledge that setbacks happen in MMA, and fans should be more understanding.
Sonnen also defended Strickland against criticism from former UFC champion Luke Rockhold and ESPN analyst Din Thomas, who accused him of not putting in an effort during the fight. Sonnen argues that Du Plessis was better and deserved the win, and it’s essential to respect the outcome of the bout.
Source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2025/02/ufc-312-daniel-cormier-chael-sonnen-sean-strickland-backlash