Sean Strickland (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Following Sean Strickland’s stoppage win at UFC Vegas 76, the polarizing fighter says he deserves to fight for the promotion’s middleweight title.

Strickland faced Abus Magomedov in the card’s main event, and after losing the opening round, went on to stop the rising middleweight in round two. The victory was Strickland’s second straight, as in January, he handed Nassourdine Imavov a decision loss in a short-notice fight.

While talking to the media afterward, the 32-year-old outlined why he believes a title shot should come next (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“It needs to happen,” Strickland said. “We know Izzy’s on f****** repeat. This is what the UFC said, ‘The middleweight division’s stagnant, let’s get Abus in here, he might beat Sean,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah right, motherf*****! Wait until you see what happens!’ Every time they try to bring new blood — the French guy [Nassourdine Imavov] I fought before, I sent him home. This guy, I sent him back. Every time they try to bring new blood in, I send them back. Give me the f***** title [shot], I earned it.

“I paid my dues. Give me that s***. I want the f****** title. Don’t run me around. I took Imavov on f****** three days’ notice. I f****** fought this time. I paid my f****** dues. Just give me the f****** shot.”

Prior to his win over Imavov, Strickland (27-5) dropped a bout to Jared Cannonier via split decision. Before that loss, Strickland was knocked out by now-former champ, Alex Pereira. The loss to Pereira snapped Strickland’s six-fight winning streak.

Heading into UFC Vegas 76, Strickland was ranked #7.  Currently, champion Israel Adesanya is not booked for his next fight. The speculation is that the winner of the Dricus du Plessis versus Robert Whittaker fight at UFC 290, July 8th, will be next for Adesanya.