After UFC 312, Sean Strickland found himself under heavy scrutiny for his performance, but his coach, Eric Nicksick, has since walked back on his critical comments about the title contender.
Previously a UFC middleweight champion, Strickland was thoroughly surpassed by Dricus Du Plessis in their latest encounter. Unlike their nail-biting match last year, this time Du Plessis left no room for doubt as he secured a clear unanimous decision victory.
Following the event, an emotional Eric Nicksick openly criticized Strickland’s performance, even hinting he might reconsider their partnership moving forward. However, after some time for reflection, Nicksick has softened his stance, acknowledging his initial statements were a mistake.
“I wouldn’t even call it a fallout,” Nicksick clarified. “It was a calculated lapse in judgment.”
He added, “I’ll delve into the reasoning behind my thoughts, but it was something I needed. It really taught me about people, and what I need to improve.”
Nicksick continued candidly, “This experience highlighted where I can evolve—becoming a better person, coach, friend, mentor, and more.”
Moreover, he acknowledged the importance of support, saying, “It also revealed who truly stands by me.”
During a conversation about his remarks on Strickland, Nicksick took responsibility for speaking while severely sleep-deprived.
“I made the wrong call by accepting the interview when I was so exhausted,” he admitted.
“You have to understand, I was fresh off a 25-hour journey, dealing with a 19-hour time difference, and barely coherent at the gym on Tuesday,” he explained. “In hindsight, I should’ve said, ‘Hey man, now’s not a good time.’ That was my misstep, and I shouldn’t have done the interview.”
Catch Eric Nicksick’s full discussion on the Sean Strickland situation in the clip below.
