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Sean Strickland
By the time he makes the walk to the cage on Saturday, it will have been two years and four days since Strickland last competed in the Octagon.
Sidelined since defeating Nordine Taleb in a welterweight matchup in Moncton, New Brunswick in 2018, the 29-year-old California native is moving back to the middleweight division, where he began his career with 15 consecutive victories, including wins over Ultimate Fighter alums Bubba McDaniel and Luke Barnatt in his first two UFC appearances.
It’s been a long road back for Strickland, who was injured in a motorcycle accident two months after his bout with Taleb that left him with numerous injuries and in need of a knee operation, however the former promising prospect has worked his way back to the biggest stage in the sport and has the potential to establish himself as a dark horse contender in the 185-pound weight class heading into next year when he takes on Jack Marshman this weekend in Las Vegas.
The Welsh representative is a seasoned veteran and perennial tough out; the exact type of veteran litmus test Strickland needs as he looks to shake off the rust and resume his career on Saturday night.
Still just 29 years old, Strickland is 20-3 overall, having registered victories over seasoned foes like Taleb, Court McGee, and Tom Breese, while landing on the wrong side of the results while going the distance with veteran welterweight contender Santiago Ponzinibbio and current champ Kamaru Usman in two of his three losses.
His injuries and absence have certainly resulted in his slipping into the background, but a dominant showing in his return would have people buzzing about him once more.