Former middleweight champion Sean Strickland faced criticism for a lackluster outing against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, with many analysts expressing disappointment that he didn’t deliver on his pre-fight hype. However, retired welterweight Matt Brown is defending Strickland’s performance, suggesting that some fans and analysts have been misled by the fighter’s promotional bluster.
Brown points out that Strickland has consistently displayed his fighting style throughout his UFC career, with a focus on absorbing damage and relying on his defense to secure victories. He argues that it’s unreasonable to expect Strickland to suddenly change his approach in the middle of a fight.
“The UFC has done a great job of magnifying the personalities of its competitors,” Brown said. “We buy into this and we love it, but sometimes it creates unrealistic expectations for fans and analysts. Sean Strickland is an obvious good fighter, and his style has gotten him to where he is.”
Brown also notes that fighters often make exaggerated claims during interviews and pre-fight press conferences in order to generate interest in their events. He suggests that fans should separate the hype from reality and focus on objective measures of a fighter’s performance.
“I don’t doubt that Sean Strickland believes he fights to the death,” Brown said. “But this is a sport with rules, and objectively, he has never fought that way. Why would we expect him to suddenly fight that way?”
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/2/11/24363289/matt-brown-fires-back-critics-upset-sean-strickland-ufc-312-when-did-we-start-listening-fighters-say