Sean Strickland, the current UFC middleweight champion, has never been one to shy away from controversy, and his recent actions have once again put him at odds with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) community. Known for his unfiltered opinions and brash demeanor, Strickland recently took to Instagram to mock BJJ, a martial art he once dedicated over a decade of his life to mastering.
In his Instagram story, Strickland shared a picture of two female UFC fighters in a grappling position, captioning it with, “No idea why people do BJJ.” This isn’t the first time Strickland has taken a jab at the discipline. His disdain for BJJ became widely known after he notoriously threw his BJJ black belt in the trash, a symbolic act that left many in the martial arts community shocked and others questioning his motives.
Strickland was promoted to black belt by the respected Checkmat BJJ instructor Ricardo Feliciano, who has remained silent on his former student’s public renunciation of the art. Despite the years spent training in the gi, Strickland has since dismissed the significance of the black belt, claiming it doesn’t reflect practical fighting abilities in modern MMA.
Strickland’s actions have sparked a heated debate within the MMA community. Many argue that while the black belt is a symbol of proficiency in BJJ, it may not hold the same value in the ever-evolving landscape of mixed martial arts. Others, like Matt Veiga, a BJJ black belt under the same instructor as Strickland, expressed disappointment in Strickland’s actions. “Jiu-Jitsu has helped a lot of people overcome struggles,” Veiga stated, labeling Strickland’s move as “in poor taste.”
The former middleweight champion’s views on BJJ seem to be rooted in his preference for striking over grappling. In the lead-up to his title fight against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, Strickland openly admitted that while he had been focusing on wrestling during training, his true inclination was to “stand and bang” rather than engage in grappling exchanges.
Critics of Strickland’s public display question the necessity of such actions, wondering if they serve any purpose beyond generating attention. Some view his behavior as part of a larger persona he’s cultivated, blending an unconventional public image with his genuine competitiveness inside the octagon.
Despite his disdain for BJJ, Strickland has participated in grappling competitions, though not without controversy. Notably, he had a heated altercation with the late ADCC champion Orlando Sanchez after Strickland kicked Sanchez during an attempted submission hold in a training session. Strickland’s complex relationship with BJJ continues to puzzle fans and practitioners alike, leaving many to ponder whether his actions are a calculated performance or a genuine reflection of his views.
As the MMA world continues to debate the significance of Strickland’s actions, one thing is certain: Sean Strickland remains one of the sport’s most polarizing figures, unafraid to challenge the status quo and keep the conversation going, even if it means throwing a black belt in the trash.
