Sean Strickland’s longtime coach criticizes former UFC champ for Khamzat Chimaev sparring session claims

Coach Eric Nicksick weighed in on fitness center rumors surrounding Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev’s previous sparring classes.

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is on the verge of probably incomes one other title shot after defeating Anthony Hernandez final weekend.

Strickland bounced again from his loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 with a dominant displaying towards Hernandez within the UFC Houston headliner. He stopped Hernandez halfway by way of Spherical 3 to earn his first TKO win since July 2023.

After UFC Houston, Strickland had a wild post-fight press convention, that includes many claims about present UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland and Chimaev’s feud has escalated in latest weeks, and Strickland reignited the hearth behind the feud when he claimed on the press convention that he made Chimaev give up whereas coaching collectively at Xtreme Couture.

Strickland’s longtime coach and the previous UFC middleweight champion have had an up-and-down relationship over the previous yr. His coach didn’t agree along with his post-fight press convention revelations.

Eric Nicksick reacts to Sean Strickland’s claims about sparring Khamzat Chimaev

In a latest interview with Submission Radio, coach Eric Nicksick reacted to Strickland’s feedback and shared a stunning stance towards his longtime pupil’s claims.

“I believe what occurs within the coaching room, ought to keep within the coaching room,” Nicksick stated of Strickland.

“Coaching is coaching. Guys ought to be placing themselves in much less advantageous positions to make themselves higher. We do plenty of situational sparring and coaching. However once more, outdoors of camp, I believe guys ought to be engaged on issues and exploring new choices, creating new techniques and strategies. Pondering that simply since you beat a man within the coaching room, whether or not you’re on the A aspect or the B aspect, you shouldn’t take that into the struggle.

“What occurs within the coaching room, I really feel like, ought to keep within the room,” Nicksick continued on Strickland. “I believe each guys are nice opponents, recreation opponents, so to me, none of that stuff issues.”

Chimaev received the UFC middleweight title by defeating Du Plessis at UFC 319 final yr. In the meantime, Strickland could need to win at the least another struggle, doubtlessly towards prime contender Nassourdine Imavov, to get one other shot on the belt.

How would a Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland struggle play out? Tell us your predictions within the feedback!